kpop idol world tour 2023

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2023 Kpop World Tours and Concerts Schedule – Save Your Tickets Now

Tours and concerts are back to normal, including in the Kpop industry. 2022 served many iconic stage performances from various artists. With the year coming to an end, 2023 is ready to serve Kpop fans more world tours and concerts.

Table of Contents

2023 Kpop World Tours and Concerts Schedule

Taeyeon – the odd of love.

The 2nd gen Kpop idol, Taeyeon, is gearing up with her world tour in 2023 and 2024.

Seoul – June 2-4
Hong Kong – June 10
Taipei – June 24
Tokyo – July 8-9
Jakarta – July 22
Manila – July 30
Bangkok – August 12-13
Singapore – August 2

Taeyeon Dissatisfied with THE ODD OF LOVE Concert in Jakarta – It’s the FIRST Concert!

BLACKPINK – Born Pink World Tour Asia

Following the release of their album Born Pink, BLACKPINK kickstarted their world tour. Jennie, Jisoo, Rose, and Lisa are ready to continue their Born Pink World Tour in 2023.

Bangkok – January 7-8
Hong Kong – January 13-15
Riyadh – January 20
Abu Dhabi – January 28
Kuala Lumpur – March 4
Jakarta – March 11-12
Kaohsiung – March 18
Manila – March 25-26
Singapore – May 13

2023 BAEKHO MINI CONCERT <BAEKHoney Day> is set to happen at YES24 LIVE HALL, Seoul.

Friday, May 12, 2023 at 8 PM KST
Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 6 PM KST
Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 5 PM KST

Among the bagful of 2023 Kpop World Tours and concerts, the Kpop boy group OnlyOneOf finally released a list of cities they will visit to perform their songs. Since their debut in 2019, OnlyOneOf has dropped many EPs and is ready to kickstart their American tour.

New Jersey – March 31
Illinois – April 2
Minnesota – April 4
Georgia – April 6
Texas – April 7
Puerto Rico – April 9
Arizona – April 12
TBD (American Broadcast) – April 13-28
California – April 29-30

onlyoneof 2023 kpop world tours and concerts schedule

EPIK HIGH – All Time High Tour

The legendary Kpop trio is now back with their Europe and North America world tours. It will be an epic performance from EPIK HIGH after a brief hiatus.

United Kingdom – February 6
Belgium – February 7
Denmark – February 9
United Kingdom – February 12
Germany – February 13, 15
California – February 26
Arizona – February 27
Texas – March 5-6
Florida – March 8
Georgia – March 11
D.C. – March 13
New Jersey – March 15
New York – March 16
Boston – March 18
Pennsylvania – March 19
Quebec – March 21
Ontario – March 23
Michigan – March 24
Illinois – March 26
Minnesota – March 30
Colorado – April 1
Utah – April 2
British Columbia – April 4
Washington – April 5
Oregon – April 6
California – April 8-9, 11
Nevada – April 14

epik high 2023 kpop world tours and concerts schedule

NCT 127 2nd Tour ‘Neo City – The Link’

NCT 127 world tour, NCT 127: Neo City – The Link , which began in 2022, is spilling over into 2023, making it yet one of the most awaited 2023 Kpop world tours and concerts

Chicago – January 9
Houston – January 11
Atlanta – January 13
Sao Paulo – January 18-20
Santiago – January 22
Bogota – January 24
Mexico City – January 28

ATEEZ – THE FELLOWSHIP: BREAK THE WALL

ATEEZ extended the dates for their world tour, which started in 2022. THE FELLOWSHIP: BREAK THE WALL tour is coming along the way to Europe, which has fueled ATINY’s excitement.

Amsterdam – February 10
Berlin – February 14
Brussels – February 18
London – February 22
Madrid – February 28
Copenhagen – March 4
Paris, Accor Arena – March 7-8

The presale opens today! 10am (local time). More info: https://t.co/nsDCNsA1X9 @ATEEZofficial @GreenhouseTLNT @lasttourint pic.twitter.com/O3MYy0l5vw — AEG Presents UK (@AEG_Presents) December 7, 2022

pH-1 – About Damn Time

Solo singer pH-1, who gained much fame in 2022, announced that he will join several Korean artists in the 2023 Kpop world tours and concerts. So far, pH-1 has only released the dates for his About Damn Time tour in North America. We’re still waiting for more dates and places.

California – January 23, 25
Texas – January 27-28
Georgia – January 30
New York – February 1
Quebec – February 2
Ontario – February 3
Illinois – February 5
Florida – February 7
Washington – February 9
British Columbia – February 12

ph-1 2023 kpop world tours and concerts schedule

Following their debut in 2020, P1harmony will join the lineup of 2023 Kpop world tours and concerts. They are going to the USA for their P1USTAGE H: P1ONEER for the first two months of 2023.

Los Angeles – January 20
Oakland – January 22
Denver – January 24
Houston – January 26
Chicago – January 29
Atlanta – February 1
Reading – February 3
New York – February 5
Washington D.C. – February 8
Nashville – February 12
Austin – February 14
Dallas – February 16

2023 P1Harmony LIVE TOUR [P1ustage H : P1ONEER] IN SEOUL We are starting our tour from SEOUL 🔥 Are you guys READY?! SEOUL(KOR) ➕ https://t.co/b3bHzjJY1P SEOUL(ENG) ➕ https://t.co/xgEyW3KUAb USA ➕ https://t.co/9dMtOgNQ5d #P1Harmony #피원하모니 #P1H #P1ustage_H #P1ONEER pic.twitter.com/pn2o0kSkmo — P1Harmony official (@P1H_official) December 26, 2022

LOOPY – Departed

After his successful run in Europe, Khip-hop artist Loopy is now rolling out his North America tour . The title of his tour, DEPARTED , represents his distance away from home and his past, as well as embodies hopes for his new future.

Texas – February 24
New York – February 25
Ontario – February 26
British Columbia – February 27
Washington – February 28
California – March 3
Atlanta – March 4
Texas – March 6

Loopy 2023 kpop world tours and concerts schedule

The artists under the AOMG record label will be on tour around Asia. Simon Dominic, Loco, Gray, Leehi, and Yugyeom will spend January and February on their Follow The Movement Asia tour.

Singapore – January 8
Bangkok – January 13
Manila – January 15
Tokyo – January 27
Osaka – January 29
Hong Kong – February 3
Taipei – February 5

[FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT] WORLD TOUR 2023 https://t.co/Pkg3eMu3Qv Did you guys cop the tickets for AOMG’s first ever world tour? Stay tuned for more announcements! #FTMWORLDTOUR2023 #AOMGWORLDTOUR2023 #AOMG pic.twitter.com/plXIJEb3Mv — aomgofficial (@AOMGOFFICIAL) December 6, 2022

Kpop boy group under C9 Entertainment will also join the 2023 Kpop world tours. In January, they will perform live in their upcoming tour, Save Me, Kill Me, in Europe.

Warsaw – January 15
Tilburg – January 18
London – January 20
Paris – January 22
Cologne – January 26
Berlin – January 29
New York – March 10
Reading – March 12
Washington – March 14
Chicago – March 16
Houston – March 18
Fort Worth – March 20
Tempe – March 22
Los Angeles – March 24
Oakland – March 26

One of the Kpop boy groups who just debuted last year, EPEX , is already out to have their first World tour in the U.S. Their first tour, Eight Apex , is expected to be one of the immense 2023 Kpop World Tours and concerts.

New York – February 3
Reading – February 5
Atlanta – February 7
Chicago – February 9
Dallas – February 12
Houston – February 13
Las Vegas – February 15
Los Angeles – February 17
San Francisco – February 19

[📢Tickets and M&G OPEN📢] EPEX 1st CONCERT in U.S. Tickets are now LIVE🎉 🎬Don’t forget to Meet & Greet #EPEX after the show! TICKET INFO IN THREAD ⏬ #EPEX #Eight_Apex #EPEX1stCONCERT #EIGHTAPEXinUS #WISH #KEUM #MU #AMIN #BAEKSEUNG #AYDEN #YEWANG #JEFF pic.twitter.com/sicyzPuP1O — MyMusicTaste (@_mymusictaste) December 1, 2022

ITZY will have their first Kpop world tour in 2023. However, they have only released the date in Taipei so far. Fans worldwide eagerly await the reveal of the other countries and cities of ITZY’s CHECKMATE tour.

Taipei – February 26

Continue reading Kpop World Tour 2022: TAN, MAMAMOO, NMIXX,Kang Daniel, and more on page 2 .

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[UPDATE] Kpop Concerts 2023 Schedule

KPOP OFFICIAL – Last Updated September 13, 2023 KST

Kpop Concerts 2023 and Kpop World Tour 2023 schedule and lineup: Jung Kook (BTS); Stray Kids; BLACKPINK; iKON; MAMAMOO+; TEMPEST; xikers; PURPLE KISS; oceanfromtheblue; Forestella; BOBBY (iKON); and more.

Hey Kpop fans! 2023 is the year when Kpop concerts and Kpop World Tours truly take center stage. This year, your favorite Kpop idols are setting the stage on fire, not only with their comebacks but also with unforgettable concerts and world tours. Whether you’re a dedicated fan waiting to cheer in person or an online enthusiast ready to stream, there’s something for everyone. Ready to witness Kpop history? Let’s dive into the lineup!

We would like to apologize for the timing of this Kpop Concert Schedule post. As it’s already September 2023, we have focused on the concerts and events from September to December 2023. Regrettably, we did not include earlier events from this year. But don’t worry! There have been numerous exceptional performances by Kpop artists throughout 2023, and we fully intend to update and provide information on them. We will be updating this list daily to ensure that we capture every exhilarating concert and tour. Stay tuned, and thank you for your understanding!

Lineup Kpop Concerts 2023 and Kpop World Tour 2023

Table of Contents: Click To Jump!

KPOP CONCERTS DATE

September 2023, october 2023, november 2023, december 2023.

Please comment below if there are any K-pop artists that we haven’t included in the list yet. We want to include all concerts one by one.

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Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images

TXT, Blackpink, Aespa & More: Here Are All The K-Pop Tours And Events You Can Catch This Summer

Whether you want to put your Head in the Clouds, free yourself at Outside Lands or be (re)born pink, plan out your summer with these K-pop events and tours in mind.

2023 started off strong for K-pop events in the U.S. Household names like NCT 127 , Kang Daniel , and Stray Kids all toured the country, while the Empire State Building was lit up in honor of TWICE 's latest EP, Ready to Be . In April, BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop group to headline Coachella, while BTS ' Suga (under the alias Agust D) began his first solo tour — the first out of all BTS members.

As summer starts to bloom, so do even more tours, festivals and conventions for lovers of Korean music and culture to rejoice. From mid-May to the end of August, almost every week will be busy with affairs that range from concerts by rising groups like WEi, to weekend-long celebrations like KCON, to trailblazing performances like Tomorrow X Together (TXT) headlining Lollapalooza, or aespa becoming the first K-pop group to play at New York’s Governors Ball.

To add some color to your summer, GRAMMY.com assembled a list of all the K-pop concerts and events happening in the next few months so you can enjoy the season at its fullest.

Suga: Agust D Tour

April 26 - May 17

The first BTS member to headline his own solo tour, Suga kicked off a string of performances in the U.S. on April 26 in Belmont Park, New York. The setlist included hits from his two mixtapes, August D and D-2 , new tracks from his first solo studio album, D-Day , and even some BTS classics. Before heading to the Asian leg of the tour, Suga will play in Los Angeles and in Oakland, California.

Head in the Clouds Festival

Forest Hills, New York

88rising continues its mission of spreading the talents of Asian diaspora artists through their Head in the Clouds Festival. In addition to their usual Los Angeles edition, 2023 sees Head in the Clouds Festival expand to New York for the first time. The lineup includes returning acts such as DPR IAN and DPR LIVE, while K-pop sensation ITZY, global girl group XG, and rising rockstar LØREN will make their HITC debuts.

Tomorrow X Together (TXT): ACT : SWEET MIRAGE World Tour

Dazzling boy group Tomorrow X Together (TXT) grow bigger with each new release and their international tours follow suit. After last year’s ACT : LOVESICK, they return for a six-city stint in the U.S. with ACT : SWEET MIRAGE, kicking it off on May 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Members Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai perform hits like "0x1=LOVESONG (I Know I Loved You)," "Good Boy Gone Bad" and their latest single, "Sugar Rush Ride."

MAMAMOO: MY CON World Tour

May 16 - June 4

Vocal queens MAMAMOO will soon begin their first-ever U.S. tour. Hwasa, Solar, Moonbyul, and Wheein are set to perform in nine cities, starting with New York on May 16 and ending in Los Angeles on June 4. With almost a decade of classics under their belts, the quartet will likely perform songs such as "Um Oh Ah Yeh," solo songs by each member, and a slew of hits like "HIP" and "Egotistic."

WEi: PASSION World Tour

Boy group WEi also returns to the U.S. for their second world tour, PASSION. Each of its six members — Daehyeon, Donghan, Yongha, Yohan, Seokhwa, and Junseo — are known for competing in different survival shows, with Yohan finishing in first place on Mnet’s "Produce X 101" in 2019. Although Yohan himself will be absent from this tour due to conflicting schedules, the remaining quintet promises to have a blast from coast to coast.

Bang Yongguk: The Colors of Bang Yongguk US Tour

May 31 - June 16

As a singer/songwriter, record producer, and former leader of boy group B.A.P, Bang Yongguk is one of K-pop’s most wide-ranging artists. Through honest lyrics and a voice deeper than the Mariana Trench, Yongguk’s work is immediately identifiable and always innovative. After releasing a brand new album this month, The Colors of Love , he is set to perform 10 concerts across the U.S., beginning in Joliet, Illinois on May 31.

TRI.BE: 2023 USA Tour VIDA LOCA

June 6 - July 3

Girl group TRI.BE have graced K-pop with effervescent singles and boundless energy since 2021, when they debuted with "Doom Doom Ta." This year, members Songsun, Kelly, Jinha, Hyunbin, Jia, Soeun, and Mire will embark on their first U.S. tour. The septet will play a massive round of 17 shows throughout the country, starting in Orlando, Florida and concluding in L.A.

aespa: Governors Ball Music Festival

In less than three years since their debut, aespa are already making history. The quartet — formed by Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning — will be the first K-pop group to perform at NYC outdoor festival Governors Ball, held June 9-11. SM Entertainment’s latest girl group became known for their AI-filled lore that includes avatars and an avant-garde sound in the likes of popular singles "Next Level” and “Savage."

TWICE: 5th World Tour Ready to Be

June 10 - July 9

Unrelenting girl group TWICE return to the U.S. for their 5th World Tour Ready to Be. Named after their latest album, the performances will feature hits from their 8-year spanning discography, as well as solo performances from each of its nine members. After performances in Asia and Australia, they will kick off a 13-stop North American leg of the tour at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on June 10, and wrap it up at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 9.

CRAVITY: The First World Tour Masterpiece

Last year, rising boy group CRAVITY toured the U.S. as one of the representatives of KCON 2022 Rookies — a series of concerts organized by the All Things Hallyu festival with up-and-coming names in the industry. In 2023, the nine-member group are proving their growth as they headline their own tour through New York, Chicago, San Juan, Atlanta, Dallas, and Los Angeles.

JUST B: Otakon

Held in Washington, D.C., Otakon is the place to be for lovers of Asian pop culture. After bringing names like AleXa and PIXY last year, this year’s edition of the festival will bring rookie boy group JUST B — Lim Jimin, Geonu, Bain, JM, DY, and Sangwoo — for a performance and some VIP experiences to get to know them better.

Lee Youngji K-PLAY! FEST

San Mateo, California

Rapper Lee Youngji rose to fame by being the first woman to win survival shows "High School Rapper 3" and "Show Me the Money 11." However, she gathered an even bigger fandom through the YouTube variety show "My Alcohol Diary," where she invites other K-pop idols to her home for drinks and hilarious conversations. On July 30, she will headline the Bay Area edition of K-PLAY! FEST , the "first ever K-pop festival for fans, by fans." Besides spitting fiery bars, she will also do a hi-touch event, a fansign, and take some selfies with fans who purchase VIP packages.

Tomorrow X Together, NewJeans, DRP IAN, DPR LIVE: Lollapalooza

After last year’s success with performances from Tomorrow x Together and BTS’ j-hope , the Lolla 2023 features even more K-pop. For the first time in history, TXT will headline the festival on August 5, while fellow labelmates and current sensation NewJeans will perform on Thursday, August 3. DPR IAN, 6 and DPR LIVE bring their R&B, rock, and rap fusion to the last day of the festival on Sunday.

(G)I-dle: I am FREE-TY World Tour

K-pop’s resident tomboys will bring their flair and authenticity stateside. After last year’s J ust Me ( )I-dle World Tour, the quintet formed by Soyeon, Miyeon, Minnie, Yuqi, and Shuhua will perform in six cities throughout the first half of August. In addition to their attitude-filled setlist, fans can expect new songs from their upcoming sixth EP, I Feel .

Pasadena, California

After their New York edition in May, HITC heads to the West Coast for another weekend celebrating Asian talents. While the lineup is yet to be announced, fans can expect it to hold some of the names who performed in past editions, as well as exciting newcomers. HITC will happen at Brookside at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 5 and 6.

BLACKPINK: BORN PINK World Tour

Headlining Coachella in April wasn’t enough for the unstoppable girl group BLACKPINK. Jennie, Rosé, Lisa, and Jisoo have just announced four stadium concerts in August as an extension of their ongoing BORN PINK World Tour, which also included U.S. dates in 2022. The quartet will perform at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. on Aug. 12, then follow to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Oracle Park in San Francisco, and wrap it up at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Aug. 26.

aespa: Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival

San Francisco

Once again, the groundbreaking aespa hit the U.S. for another milestone: they will be the first K-pop group to perform at San Francisco’s Outside Lands . The quartet will play their futuristic set on Friday, August 11, along Kendrick Lamar , Janelle Monaé and WILLOW , among others.

Los Angeles

Known as the largest Korean culture and music festival in North America, KCON has a decade-long legacy of serving as a bridge for "all things Hallyu." Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, the festival includes a two-night concert, fan signings, food and merch stalls, panels with professionals in the industry, and many other attractions. KCON hasn’t announced its official lineup yet, but attendees can expect it to maintain the same excellence of past years.

Beyond Coachella: 10 Smaller Festivals Beloved For Their Homegrown Vibes & Huge Lineups

Women's History Month 2024 Playlist Hero

Photos (clockwise, from top left): Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella, Paras Griffin/Getty Images, Lufre, MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY, Paras Griffin/Getty Images, JOHN SHEARER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Listen: GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2024 Playlist: Female Empowerment Anthems From Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Jennie & More

This March, the Recording Academy celebrates Women's History Month with pride and joy. Press play on this official playlist that highlights uplifting songs from Taylor Swift, Victoria Monét, Anitta and more.

From commanding stages to blasting through stereos, countless women have globally graced the music industry with their creativity. And though they've long been underrepresented , tides are changing: in just the last few years, female musicians have been smashing records left and right, conquering top song and album charts and selling sold-out massive tours .

This year, Women's History Month follows a particularly historic 66th GRAMMY Awards , which reflected the upward swing of female musicians dominating music across the board. Along with spearheading the majority of the ceremony's performances, women scored bigtime in the General Field awards — with wins including Best New Artist , Record Of The Year , Song Of The Year , and Album Of The Year .

Female empowerment anthems, in particular, took home major GRAMMY gold. Miley Cyrus ' "Flowers" took home two awards , while Victoria Monét was crowned Best New Artist thanks to the success of her album Jaguar II and its hit single "On My Mama." As those two songs alone indicate, female empowerment takes many different shapes in music — whether it's moving on from a relationship by celebrating self-love or rediscovering identity through motherhood.

The recent successes of women in music is a testament to the trailblazing artists who have made space for themselves in a male-dominated industry — from the liberating female jazz revolution of the '20s to the riot grrl movement of the '90s. Across genres and decades, the classic female empowerment anthem has strikingly metamorphosed into diverse forms of defiance, confidence and resilience.

No matter how Women's History Month is celebrated, it's about women expressing themselves, wholeheartedly and artistically, and having the arena to do so . And in the month of March and beyond, women in the music industry deserve to be recognized not only for their talent, but ambition and perseverance — whether they're working behind the stage or front-and-center behind the mic.

From Aretha Franklin 's "RESPECT" to Beyoncé 's "Run the World (Girls)," there's no shortage of female empowerment anthems to celebrate women's accomplishments in the music industry. Listen to GRAMMY.com's 2024 Women's History Month playlist on streaming services below.

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Photo: JYP Entertainment

TWICE Reflect On Milestone Moments & Latest 'With YOU-th' EP

The nine members of K-pop girl group TWICE spoke to GRAMMY.com about their new EP 'With YOU-th,' released today, and their ability to navigate the choppy waters of life and stardom over their nearly decade-long journey together.

In the music video for "I Got You," K-pop girl group TWICE are stranded at a tempestuous sea. Their ship waders and wobbles, thunder roars outside, but the nine members are safe and sound in the cabin — lying on cozy pillows and having a good time, they know all storms are temporary.

"I Got You" precedes TWICE’s thirteenth EP, With YOU-th , out Feb. 23, and the video mirrors their journey together so far.

TWICE members Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu made their debut in Oct. 2015, after being selected through JYP Entertainment’s survival show "Sixteen." Almost a decade later, the group is now one of K-pop’s most influential, beloved names. They've even made history by becoming the first K-pop group to win a Breakthrough Award at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards, and the first girl group and Asian female act to sell out Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium last year .

Achieving their level of success didn’t come easy. In songs like " Feel Special" and "One In a Million," they've openly shared the dedication and resilience it took to make it this far. They highlight the importance of unity and their special connection, both with each other and their fan base known as ONCE.

With YOU-th celebrates all that. It’s a journey navigating toward the calm after the storm, and a statement on the importance of friendship, love, and just having someone who can say "No matter what, you got me/ I got you/ And I wouldn’t want it any other way."

Ahead of the release, the nine members of TWICE (and a special appearance by Momo’s Norwich Terrier, Boo) chatted with GRAMMY.com over Zoom about their new album, the most significant moments in their career so far, and how they see themselves today.

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Explore The Sounds Of K-Pop

Reflecting on the present while creating with you-th.

Nayeon: With YOU-th is meaningful in a way that it tells our story and reflects who we are at this moment.

Sana: Our [lead single], "One Spark," was supposed to be in one of our previous albums, but it didn't make it. [When] we chose it to be the single for this album, and we wanted to make it even better than it already was. We changed arrangements and the parts that we sang, and we also re-recorded the song to make it as perfect as possible.

Dahyun: The song that I wrote the lyrics for, "You Get Me," is a sequel to our pre-release single, "I Got You." The story continues in that there's a connection between the two songs. I also wrote lyrics for another song, but it didn't make it in this album and I'm hoping that it'll make it in the next album.

Experiencing An Unbelievable Debut — And Global Success

Jeongyeon: The first moment that really stuck with me was during the [2015 survival show] "Sixteen," where TWICE members were decided. Another moment was when we released our first single, "Like OOH-AHH." I cried a lot on that day.

Another moment [that I remember well] was the first time we topped the Korean music charts with [2016’s] "Cheer Up." It happened on May 5. I remember it very clearly.

Tzuyu: During the years that I was a trainee, some of the members were already chosen to debut [with TWICE], and I was not one of them. Whenever I watched them during monthly evaluations, I would always think about how perfect they are and how good they are. I never thought that I would be one of the members. The fact that I made it into TWICE and that it lasted so far is still really unbelievable for me.

Dahyun: When we first visited a broadcast station to perform on stage as TWICE, that was really memorable. I remember being so nervous in front of the fans. And I remember our first concert where I cried a lot.

Blinking Twice, Nearly 10 Years Have Flown By

Jihyo: I sometimes look up our old concert videos on the internet, and when I watch them, I am impressed by how much improvement we made, and also how young we were and how hard we worked.

Sana: When we debuted, I thought our eighth anniversary would never come, but it happened so quickly. Our eighth anniversary fan meeting was so beautiful and we cherished it with our fans and all nine of us. That was such a precious moment. I'm just so grateful that we made it this far and all of us are healthy and happy. I think that's what matters the most.

Mina: Right before we signed the contracts again as a group [in 2022], we had a concert at Tokyo Dome. At this point, none of us knew what would happen, so we cried a lot and we were very anxious as well. That performance really stuck with me.

Twice Have Had To Overcome Hardships As A Team

Jihyo: Because everybody else talked about happy moments, I'm going to talk about the difficult times rather than the good times. I think the hardships made us solid as a team, and it really made me feel that I'm not alone in this. Whatever we go through, I'm not alone.

That feeling struck me hard when I released my solo album, [ Zone ] . I got so many cheers from the members and they helped me by doing all these challenges for Instagram. I really felt like difficult things are easier to overcome when we're together.

Every time when we're so busy and all of us are sensitive, it's much easier to get over yourself and think that you're not alone in this. All of the members are going through the same thing. That kind of thought really helps.

Remembering The "Glamor" Of Touring

Momo: During our [last] tour, we would all get together in the hotel room and eat. For example, when we are in Japan, our favorite meal to eat together is udon noodles. And there was this one particular day that each of us got into the shower right after the concert, and the hot water didn't come out, so all of us in our respective bathrooms screamed at the same time. That was really funny.

Chaeyoung: Last year, during the promotions for "Set Me Free," we visited the United States for two weeks. Every day we had three or four [performance] schedules, and it made me feel like I was back to the newly-debuted times of our group. It was physically challenging, but we got over it, and it’s now a good memory. The most striking part was when we went to the Empire State, and they lit up the whole [Empire State] building with TWICE’s official colors.

Dahyun: There was also a concert in Japan where we performed on a big, round stage. I remember all of us members holding hands and circling around, and that somehow stuck with me. I also remember vividly the first time we got an award overseas, in America.

TWICE Want To Face The Future Together

Nayeon: In the last scene of the music video for "I Got You," we are sailing on a ship in the middle of the ocean. I thought that it was a reflection of where we are, career-wise and in our lives. Of course we had difficult times, but I think that going through all of it together solidified us as a group. I'm not going to say that we have a clear destination point now, but what matters is that we are together, and that is something very clear and solid.

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Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor performing in 2023

Photo: Randy Holmes/DISNEY via Getty Images

New Holiday Songs For 2023: Listen To Festive Releases From Aespa, Brandy, Sabrina Carpenter & More

With the Christmas season in full swing, it’s time to deck the halls and load up those holiday playlists. Check out 14 new songs and projects to add to your 2023 festivities.

It's the most wonderful time of year! With every holiday season comes a new outpouring of festive music, and this year is no different.

From pop and R&B to K-pop and country, artists from all genres revel in the season as they pen new, original Christmas songs and reinterpret well-loved classics. This year, GRAMMY winners like Brandy and Samara Joy deliver full-length albums, while rising stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Mimi Webb and Coco Jones add their own contributions like shiny new baubles on a sparkling Christmas tree.

Below, GRAMMY.com rounded up 14 new holiday releases worth checking out, from Alanis Morissette 's first Christmas EP to new projects by Aly & AJ and Gavin DeGraw , and even a posthumous duet between Elvis Presley and Kane Brown .

aespa, "Jingle Bell Rock"

Need some K-pop for your holiday playlist? Look no further than aespa's take on "Jingle Bell Rock." The girl group takes Bobby Helms' 1957 hit to the metaverse by giving it a slinky edge punctuated by handclaps, toy piano and glitchy undertones. Members GISELLE and NINGNING even add their own laid-back rap verse to the proceedings, casually tossing off lyrics like, "Ring, ring, ring, jingle bell rock/ Play like a spell/ I won't tell, jingle bell talk" partway through the track.

Aly & AJ, Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove isn't Aly & AJ's first Christmas project — that would be their excellent 2006 LP Acoustic Hearts of Winter — but the siblings have come a long way from the Disney days of their last holiday record. Just look at "Greatest Time of Year," which they've plucked from the Acoustic Hearts track list and transformed from into a delicate slowburner perfect to be sung by the fireside. Then there's the pitch-perfect cover of "Sisters," which proves the only way to improve upon Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen's eternally iconic number from 1954's White Christmas is for it to be recorded by, you know, actual sisters.

Brandy, Christmas With Brandy

Considering she's been called the "Vocal Bible" since she rose to stardom in the '90s, a Christmas album makes all the sense in the world for Brandy. On Christmas with Brandy , the R&B sensation — and star of Netflix's new holiday flick Best. Christmas. Ever. — eschews the scriptural in favor of the romantic ("Christmas Party For Two"), the hopeful ("Someday at Christmas") and the celebratory ("Christmas Gift" with daughter Sy'Rai) — all with her trademark gossamer runs and riffs in full, glistening effect.

Kane Brown and Elvis Presley, "Blue Christmas"

Fresh off his performance in NBC's "Christmas at Graceland" special, Kane Brown turns his live version of "Blue Christmas" into a full-blown duet with Elvis Presley himself. The King famously released his iconic version of the holiday classic in 1957 — as well as a live version more than a decade later — and Brown wisely sticks to Presley's tried-and-true formula on their duet by trading verses, while letting Elvis' iconic voice shine.

Sabrina Carpenter , Fruitcake

Sabrina Carpenter created a recipe for a holiday hit last year thanks to "A Nonsense Christmas," a cheeky seasonal remake of her top 10 pop hit "Nonsense." This year, she doubles the recipe on Fruitcake , a delectable slice of Christmas goodness that's equal parts sweet and sour.

On the winking "Buy Me Presents," the pop chanteuse demands the undivided attention of her lover while "Cindy Lou Who" turns the sweetest character in Dr. Seuss' oeuvre into a man-stealing Jolene of Christmas nightmares. "Is It New Year's Yet" revels in an irresistible spirit of pessimism that'll have all of Carpenter's fans saying "Bah humbug!" with glee.

Gavin DeGraw, A Classic Christmas

Eighteen months since Gavin DeGraw's last album, 2022's understated Face the River , the crooner turns up the yuletide cheer — with all the trimming and trappings — for his first holiday record. Each song on the six-track EP stays true to the title, as strings, sleigh bells and tradition combine with DeGraw's soulful timbre on standards like "The Most Wonderful Time of Year," "Silent Night" and "White Christmas."

Kirk Franklin, "Joy To The World"

Kirk Franklin cooked up an extra-special gift for his Spotify Singles Holiday rendition of "Joy to the World." Enlisting a buoyant backing choir, the 19-time GRAMMY winner adds a thoughtful spoken word element over the music, telling listeners everywhere, "This year I offer you the gift of unity. The gift of harmony. Bring us together like never before this holiday season. Find room in your heart. Listen. Can you hear it?"

Coco Jones, "A Timeless Christmas"

Determined to make 2023 a year to remember, Coco Jones follows her five 2024 GRAMMY nominations — including one for Best New Artist — with "A Timeless Christmas." On the original song, the R&B breakout aims to unwrap a holiday filled with family, joy and love as she intones, "Cherish the moment with the people that surround you/ Live in the moment today/ Let's have a timeless Christmas/ Let's just come together in harmony as one forever."

Samara Joy, A Joyful Holiday

Just months after releasing Linger Awhile Longer — the deluxe edition of her 2022 studio album — Samara Joy returns with A Joyful Holiday , a festive EP filled with jazzy originals and standards alike. The 2023 Best New Artist GRAMMY winner taps jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner on "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me" and turns on the feels on opener "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." But perhaps the most special moment of the record happens when three generations of her family join her for a gospel-fueled take on "O Holy Night," filled with stunning harmonies.

Ingrid Michaelson, "This Christmas"

Ingrid Michaelson has supplied plenty of cozy and nostalgic Christmas tunes ever since releasing her 2018 album Songs of the Season , but she doubles down on the warm fireside sounds with her new single "This Christmas." Though it shares a title with the beloved Donny Hathaway track, Michaelson's original song finds beauty in the stillness and small details of the season — from the wonder in a child's eyes as snow falls swirls to the ground to family gathered around the piano.

Alanis Morissette, Last Christmas

After gifting fans a string of holiday singles over the past few years, Alanis Morissette has finally compiled the songs into a full Christmas-themed project. The four-track EP Last Christmas contains three of the alt pioneer’s past releases: 2020’s rousing and poignant “Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and pandemic-era take on “What Child Is This” as well as last year’s “Little Drummer Boy.” However, she saved a shiny new toy for last in the form of a surprisingly peppy cover of Wham! ’s modern classic “Last Christmas.”

Jon Pardi, Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi

It's a full-blown Christmas Pardi, ahem, party on Jon Pardi's fifth album, the aptly-titled Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi . The recent Grand Ole Opry inductee appoints Rudolph a designated driver on "Beer For Santa," is unfazed by a ferocious blizzard thanks to "400 Horsepower Sleigh" and sheds his ugly Christmas sweater to celebrates the holiday on the beach with "Merry Christmas From The Keys." But he's also unafraid to put a country spin on the likes of Mariah Carey 's timeless smash "All I Want for Christmas Is You," and holiday classics like "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" and "Please Come Home For Christmas."

Meghan Trainor, "Jingle Bells"

Meghan Trainor has delivered Christmas goodies in the past (2020's A Very Trainor Christmas , last year's "Kid on Christmas" with Pentatonix ), but this year she teamed up with Amazon Music for an exclusive rendition of "Jingle Bells." There's only a 30-second preview available without Amazon Music, but in the event you're not a subscriber, check out Trainor's other holiday offering of the season: her duet with Jimmy Fallon titled " Wrap Me Up ."

Mimi Webb, "Back Home For Christmas"

In the wake of her debut studio album, Amelia , Mimi Webb tackles her first original holiday track in the form of "Back Home For Christmas." The lovelorn single is filled with church bells and yearning galore as the rising pop starlet wails, "Just like that, first of December/ Counting down 'til we're together/ Only one thing on my wishlist/ Bring my love back home for Christmas/ Mistletoe making me lonely/ Santa Claus just can't console me/ Only one thing that I'm missin'/ Bring my love back home for Christmas."

Clearly, the Christmas season can make you feel all sorts of ways, from nostalgic and cozy to lonely, filled with hope and back again.

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Photo: Jim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

New Music Friday: Listen To New Music From TXT, Margo Price, REZZMAU5 & More

Listen to these fresh tracks and collaborations from Tomorrow x Together, the Menzingers, the Libertines and others.

As October unfolds, influential artists from across the globe continue to share new, dynamic sounds.

Friday, Oct. 13 is turning out to be anything but scary, with highly anticipated releases from megastars, newcomers and fan favorites. Among the day's biggest releases are Bad Bunny’s Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana, Offset 's Set It Off , a new EP from Ringo Starr , Troye Sivan 's first album in five years, and a new EP rising K-pop stars IVE .

Elsewhere, K-pop group TXT explore the melodramatic moments of teenagehood on their new album, while pop singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone does some self-exploration on her debut album.

This Friday, dive into seven new releases and consider adding these tracks into your monthly musical rotation.

TXT - The Name Chapter: FreeFall

K-pop group TOMORROW X TOGETHER , explore the depths of teen angst in their latest chapter LP, The Name Chapter: FreeFall . Following collaborations with Anitta and the Jonas Brothers , TXT have returned with a nine track album that navigates away from youthful optimism and dives into the harsh reality of adolescence.

One of TXT's Chapter series of releases, this latest release follows January's The Name Chapter: Temptation . "Our music contains this one story of growth and so we basically talk about the process of growth," member TAEHYUN told GRAMMY.com earlier this year.

Tracks like "Growing Pain" and "Chasing That Feeling," guide listeners through the journey of growth, through melodic lyrics and punk-rock percussion. TXT member BEOMGYU showcases his own producing skills in the R&B, pop song, "Blue Spring." Through creative storytelling and embracing emotional vulnerability, this album isn’t one to miss.

The Menzingers - Some Of It Was True

Four years after their last release, Pennsylvania punk outfit the Menzingers dropped their latest Some Of It Was True . The group's seventh album is a nostalgic journey about growing up and longing for a certain someone.

"I'm all alone in Dublin, searching for something / Wishing you were here with me," they sing in "Along in Dublin."

While tracks like "I Didn’t Miss You (Until You Were Gone)" stay true to the group's traditional indie punk feel, songs like "Ultraviolet" explore the Mezingers' calmer, Springsteen -esque sensibility. Some Of It Was True shows the band’s evolution and versatility, as they transition from self-reflective songs to addressing maturer, universal issues.

Holly Humberstone - Paint My Bedroom Black

After opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour tour and being awarded BRIT’s 2022 Rising Star , Holly Humberstone offers her debut record, Paint My Bedroom Black . The highly personal album explores themes of uncertainty and confusion, unpacking the array of emotions she experienced while on the road.

Each track is an odyssey of relatable Gen-Z experiences; songs like "Antichrist" and "Lauren" that talk about experiencing conflicts in relationships, but with total honesty. Tracks such as "Room Service" employ folksy instrumentals and a mellow beats that pay homage to her family and friends.

Humberstone's authenticity in lyrically discussing themes like love, friendship and identity make her debut a relatable self-reflective anthem.

REZZMAU5 - "Infraliminal"

Spend your Friday night head-bopping to another powerful electronic collaboration from REZZ and deadmau5 . Their latest song, "Infraliminal,"remixes deadmau5’s "Superliminal" by adding a deeper bass and creating new energetic arrangements.

"A lil fact - the original "superliminal" by deadmau5 is one of the songs which inspired me to create music. Fast forward to now, we have a project together & are releasing a version (technically two versions, you’ll see) of what I consider one of my favorite tracks by Joel ever," REZZ shared in an X post.

The Libertines - "Run, Run, Run"

UK rock band the Libertines are back with their latest single, "Run, Run, Run," an energetic tale about running from the past and enjoying the present.

The quartet recently announced their new album All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade, which will drop in March 2024. The album will feature 11 songs, produced by GRAMMY-nominated Dimitri Tikovoï. "Run, Run, Run" and the forthcoming album are the Libertines' first projects since their 2015 album Anthems for Doomed Youth. The group celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2022.

Margo Price - Strays II

Nashville singer/songwriter Margo Price continues unveiling authentic tracks in Strays II, which takes listeners through her tales of trauma, loss and self journeys in three acts: "Topanga Canyon," "Mind Travel" and "Burn Whatever’s Left." Strays II focuses on life’s everchanging tapestry, marking her a true artist in storytelling.

The album features "Malibu," a collaboration with GRAMMY-nominated artists Big Thief's Buck Meek and Jonathan Wilson . The song brings listeners to the scenic West Coast, as Price serenely sings about chasing a dream all to end up stranded in the titular.

On the other hand, the title track has more of an upbeat tempo with catchy guitar riffs that seem to echo the sounds of the '90s. This song paints a story on her early moments with husband Jeremy Ivey.

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2 Listen: GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2024 Playlist: Female Empowerment Anthems From Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Jennie & More
3 TWICE Reflect On Milestone Moments & Latest 'With YOU-th' EP
4 New Holiday Songs For 2023: Listen To Festive Releases From Aespa, Brandy, Sabrina Carpenter & More
5 New Music Friday: Listen To New Music From TXT, Margo Price, REZZMAU5 & More

The biggest K-pop global tours

Over the years, K-pop has spread its influence outside of Korea and solidified its position as a major music genre all across the globe. Now, K-pop artists are able to expand their stage and perform outside of Korea in numerous countries.

With more and more K-pop artists touring globally, overseas concerts have become the norm. And now, K-pop artists' concert tours easily gather thousands of audiences, even millions of fans.

So here are the biggest global tours .

1. BTS - Love Yourself tour (2018-2019)

Number of attendees: about 2.02 million

2. Big Bang - MADE Tour (2015-2016)

Number of attendees: about 1.5 million

3. TVXQ - Circle / Begin again Japan Tour (2017-2018) Number of attendees: about 1.05 million

4. EXO - The EXO'luXion (2015-2016) Number of attendees: about 760,000

5. Seventeen - Be the Sun (2022)

Number of attendees: about 600,000

6. Super Junior - Super Show 6 (2014-2015)

Number of attendees: about 550,000

7. TWICE - Twicelights / Dreamday Japan tour (2019-2020) Number of attendees: about 470,000

(Currently ongoing global tours)

BLACKPINK - Born Pink Tour (2022-2023)

Expected number of total attendees: about 1.5 million

Stray Kids - MANIAC (2022-2023)

Expected number of total attendees: about 500,000

Super Junior

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Unfortunately, number of attendees and venue size aren’t consequences of quality but only of popularity. In K-pop, popularity and success isn’t synonymous of talent. Just look at Blackpink shows, huge numbers on expensive tickets, but they got on controversies over and over again due to lackluster performances, lack of synchronization, lip synching, lack of energy on stage and laziness. People complained a lot about that, but I think those people just didn’t know them well enough and thought “Hey, these girls are popular, their show is expensive, so they must be good”, but ended disappointed on what they got. They should have done their research before spending hundreds of dollar on a concert. They were paying to see one of the most popular K-pop group, and that’s all they can offer.

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The first Korean artist to held concert at the Wembley .. and to date no other k-pop group to do so .. Legends and Kings behavior!!!!

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iKON Gears Up For 2023 World Tour: Take Off in Manila

Ph ikonics we’ll be raising our konbats soon as ikon announces their take-off to manila for a solo concert.

South Korean idol group iKON is finally returning to the Philippines as part of their much-awaited 2023 iKON World Tour: Take Off .

Pulp Live World, a local concerts and events organizer, revealed on June 17 that they will be in charge of iKON’s Manila stop. Along with the announcement of the show came the unveiling of the official poster, including the date and venue of the concert.

Put your jackets on coz we're bringing the party to you, PH iKONICS! iKON is taking off to MANILA for 2023 iKON WORLD TOUR' TAKE OFF on August 5 at @TheBigDome ! It's gonna be a thrilling roller coaster ride of fun and excitement! Don't miss out on the party! #iKONinMANILA2023 … pic.twitter.com/YCycsQ9upy — PULP Live World (@pulpliveworld) June 17, 2023

Aside from the Manila leg, iKON will also visit Madrid, Essen, Florence, Singapore, Paris, Osaka, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Further details regarding the ticket prices, seat plan, and ticket selling dates have yet to be announced.

Having originally made their debut in 2015 with seven members under YG Entertainment, B.I departed from the group in 2019.

Jay, Song, Bobby, DK, Ju-ne, and Chan continued promoting as six members until they eventually parted ways with YG Entertainment and moved to new management, 143 Entertainment.

This is iKON’s first concert tour under the new agency.

Meanwhile, PH iKONics will experience a “thrilling roller coaster ride of fun and excitement,” as iKON will return to Manila for their world tour.

The 2023 iKON World Tour: Take Off in Manila will happen on August 5, 2023, 6PM, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

iKON Leaves YG Entertainment + To Continue Activities As A Group

Image Source: Pulp Live World , 143 Entertainment

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Kpop concerts in Japan 2023/2024

I have listed some of the Kpop concerts in Japan 2023/2024, and will be updating as I find more concert information. Some of the tickets are available to buy through ticket agencies, and some are unknown how to obtain tickets, and I will try my best to figure out how to get tickets for them. If you need any help, check out my How to buy Kpop tickets in Japan article. In the past, I made also made a Kpop Guide In Tokyo to help out all kpop fans in Japan.

NCT Universe : LASTART PRE-DEBUT TOUR

Line up: NCT New Team Dates: [Tickets] 2023/12/09 (Sat), 2023/12/10 (Sun): Okayama/Kurashiki Civic Center 2023/12/19 (Tue), 2023/12/20 (Wed): Kanamoto Hall, Hokkaido

『NCT Universe ： LASTART』Pre-Debut Event(仮)

IVE THE 1ST WORLD TOUR’SHOW WHAT I HAVE’

Line up: IVE Dates: [Tickets] 2024/01/31 (Wednesday), 2024/02/01 (Thursday): Fukuoka/Marine Messe Fukuoka Building A 2024/02/07 (Wednesday), 2024/02/08 (Thursday): Osaka/Osaka Castle Hall

2023 FNC KINGDOM – The Greatest Show

Line up: FTISLAND, CNBLUE, N.Flying, SF9, Cherry Bullet, P1Harmony

Dates: [Tickets] 2023/12/16 (Sat) 16:00 Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center Halls 9 and 10 2023/12/17 (Sun) 16:00 Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Center Halls 9 and 10

TWICE 5TH WORLD TOUR ‘READY TO BE’ in JAPAN additional performance

Line up: Twice Dates: 2023/12/16 (Sat), 2023/12/17 (Sun) Nagoya Vantelin Dome Nagoya 2023/12/27 (Wednesday), 2023/12/28 (Thursday) Fukuoka Fukuoka PayPay Dome

2023 TWICE FANMEETING〈ONCE AGAIN〉 kpop concert in korea 2023

2023 HWANG MIN HYUN MINI CONCERT <UNVEIL> IN TOKYO

Line up: HWANG MIN HYUN Dates: 2023/12/20 (Wednesday) – 2023/12/21 (Thursday) Tokyo/Zepp Haneda

2023 HWANG MIN HYUN MINI CONCERT < UNVEIL > IN SEOUL

2024 TREASURE TOUR [REBOOT] IN JAPAN

Line up: TREASURE Dates: [Tickets] 2024/01/06 (Sat) 17:00 Fukuoka PayPay Dome 2024/01/12 (Friday) to 2024/01/14 (Sunday) Saitama Super Arena Stadium Mode 2024/01/20 (Sat), 2024/01/21 (Sun) Aichi Sky Expo (Aichi Prefecture International Exhibition Center) Hall A 2024/02/03 (Sat), 2024/02/04 (Sun) Kyocera Dome Osaka 2024/02/10 (Sat), 2024/02/11 (Sun) Sundome Fukui 2024/02/14 (Wednesday), 2024/02/15 (Thursday) Nippon Gaishi Hall 2024/02/22 (Thursday), 2024/02/23 (Friday/Holiday) Hiroshima Green Arena

NCT 127 3RD TOUR ‘NEO CITY : JAPAN – THE UNITY’

Line up: NCT 127 Dates: [Tickets] 2024/01/7 (Sunday), 2024/01/08 (Monday/holiday) Aichi Vantelin Dome Nagoya 2024/02/10 (Sat), 2024/02/11 (Sun) Osaka, Kyocera Dome Osaka 2024/03/09 (Sat), 2024/03/10 (Sun) Tokyo, Tokyo Dome

NCT127 3ND TOUR ‘NEO CITY : SEOUL - THE UNITY’

2024 HAPPY NEW YEAR PARTY with YENA

Line up: Yena Dates: [Tickets] 2024/01/07 (Sun) 15:30 19:00 Zepp Osaka Bayside, Osaka 2024/01/09 (Tue) 15:30 19:00 Tokyo/Zepp Haneda

DKB The 1st FanConcert in Japan 2024 -Explosion-

Line up: DKB Dates: 2024/01/27 (Sat) Katsushika Symphony Hills Mozart Hall

EPEX 2ND CONCERT ＜So We are not Anxious＞ in JAPAN

Line up: Epex Dates: 2024/02/03 (Sat) Tokyo/Zepp Haneda 2024/02/05 (Monday) Zepp Fukuoka, Fukuoka 2024/02/07 (Wed) Osaka/Zepp Namba 2024/02/08 (Thursday) Aichi/Zepp Nagoya 2024/02/11 (Sun) Kanagawa/KT Zepp Yokohama

YOONA FANMEETING TOUR YOONITE in Yokohama

Line up: Yoona (SNSD) Dates: 2024/02/12 (Monday)

YOONA FAN MEETING TOUR : YOONITE in Seoul

SMTOWN LIVE 2024 SMCU PALACE @TOKYO

Line up: KANGTA、TVXQ、SUPER JUNIOR、TAEYEON）、HYOYEON、Red Velvet、NCT 127、NCT DREAM、WayV、aespa、RIIZE、NCT NEW TEAM (仮) Dates: 2024/02/21 (Wednesday) – 2024/02/22 (Thursday) Tokyo, Tokyo Dome

NCT STADIUM LIVE ‘NCT NATION ： To The World-in JAPAN’

2024 AB6IX FANCONCERT “My Dear ABNEW”

Line up: AB6IX Dates: 2024/02/21 (Wed) Zepp Osaka Bayside 2024/02/23 (Friday/Holiday) Zepp Haneda (TOKYO)

2023 AB6IX WORLD TOUR [THE FUTURE] in SEOUL

Kep1er JAPAN FAN CONCERT 2024

Line up: Kep1er Dates: [Tickets] 2024/02/23 (Fri/Holiday) – 2024/02/25 (Sun) Makuhari Messe Makuhari Event Hall 2024/03/02 (Sat), 2024/03/03 (Sun) World Memorial Hall (Kobe Port Island Hall)

Japan travel tips:

If you have a lot of luggage and want to start exploring the city the moment you land, I recommend using a luggage service that allows you to transport your suitcase from the airport to your hotel in a safe and cost-effective way, like Luggage Delivery Service between Tokyo Hotels and Airport .
Check out Skyscanner for the best deals on flights/hotels to Seoul!
Planning to travel out of Tokyo? The Japan Rail Pass for Japan allows tourists to travel most Japan Rail operated train/bus and ferries. The JR Pass is a convenient, cost-effective, and flexible way to travel around Japan!
The Skyliner is the fastest way to get to the city from the airport, it’ll get you to downtown Tokyo in just 36 minutes!
If you are looking for an affordable hotel, I recommend looking at Agoda . This is the booking website that I personally use. Agoda has a very strong market in Asia and is a popular booking website to make bookings on. Agoda allows users to leave reviews of hotels, which can be helpful in making a decision about where to stay and also allows for easy cancellations and changes. They also have a good rewards program in which you can earn points and use them for future bookings, discounts, or even free stays.
Get access and discounts to Tokyo’s top activities all over Tokyo through Klook’s Greater Tokyo pass . It has general admissions to places like teamLab Planets TOKYO, Tokyo Sanrio Puroland, TOKYO SKYTREE®, Roppongi Hills Observation Deck ”Tokyo City View“, SHIBUYA SKY Observation Deck, and Tokyo Tower Observatory.
Check out Trip Advisor for the best user-based reviews and ratings, helping you make informed decisions and plan your trips more effectively! It offers a convenient platform to search for accommodations, restaurants, and attractions, making it easier to find the best options that suit your preferences and budget.
Don’t lose time upon arrival at the airport and order your E-SIM or a 4G Pocket WiFi , a portable WIFI device in advance so you’ll have wifi the whole trip!
Never leave home without travel insurance. Check out Safety Wing !

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Any questions/concerns/help on anything or on kpop concerts in japan 2023/2024 .

Send me an email at [email protected] to plan a consultation with me!

Some Useful Sources when traveling to Japan:

My Japan posts: Pennyless Travels Japan posts Youtube Channel: Just Coneys Corner Food/Travel Instagram: @coneystravel General Tourism information: Japan Travel Website Best E-sim for travel in Japan: Airalo Airport pickup pocket wifi: 4G WiFi pocket wifi Need reliable travel insurance? Safety Wing

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10 – Eric Nam in San Francisco
11 – EVERGLOW in Chicago
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14 – Eric Nam in Los Angeles
15 – EVERGLOW in Los Angeles
1 – VAV in Los Angeles
3 – VAV in Seattle
5 – VAV in Honolulu
13 – (G)I-DLE in Seattle
15 – (G)I-DLE in San Jose, AB6IX in Newark
17 – ATEEZ in New York, (G)I-DLE in Los Angeles
18 – AB6IX in Atlanta
19 – ATEEZ in Chicago, (G)I-DLE in Phoenix
21 – ATEEZ in Atlanta, (G)I-DLE in Houston, AB6IX in Chicago
23 – ATEEZ in Dallas, (G)I-DLE in Atlanta, AB6IX in Minneapolis
25 – (G)I-DLE in Raleigh, AB6IX in Dallas
26 – ATEEZ in Los Angeles, (G)I-DLE in Washington DC
28 – (G)I-DLE in Philadelphia, AB6IX in San Francisco
30 – (G)I-DLE in Montclair, AB6IX in Los Angeles
1 – (G)I-DLE in Boston
5 – (G)I-DLE in Chicago
6 – (G)I-DLE in Minneapolis
23 – JBJ95 in Los Angeles
24 – JBJ95 in San Francisco
25 – JBJ95 in Houston
28 – JBJ95 in Chicago
29 – JBJ95 in Dallas
31 – JBJ95 in New York
2 – MONSTA X in Minneapolis, JBJ95 in Washington DC
5 – MONSTA X in Detroit, NCT127 in New York
7 – MONSTA X in Washington DC
10 – MONSTA X in Newark, NCT127 in Atlanta
12 – MONSTA X in Boston
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16 – MONSTA X in Chicago
18 – NCT127 in San Jose
19 – MONSTA X in Atlantic City, NCT127 in Los Angeles
21 – NCT127 in Seattle
22 – MONSTA X in Atlanta
24 – MONSTA X in Sunrise, FL
27 – MONSTA X in Fort Worth
29 – MONSTA X in Denver
1 – MONSTA X in Seattle
6 – MONSTA X in San Jose
8 – MONSTA X in Phoenix
11 – MONSTA X in Los Angeles

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Aespa World Tour 2024: Dates and Cities of K-Pop Concerts Revealed

SM Entertainment’s girl group Aespa has announced their 2024 world tour details, including dates and cities. The group will release their comeback album on May 27 and embark on their 2024 SYNK: Parallel Line tour in June.

Aespa concluded its first Synk: Hyper Line world tour in Paris on September 30, 2023. The “Black Mamba” crooners toured through 21 cities in 12 countries and held over 31 concerts. One of the highlight points of Aespa’s concerts was their carefully curated setlist, which included a solo track of each member.

Dates and cities of Aespa World Tour 2024 explored

K-pop girl group Aespa has announced 19 concerts in thirteen cities for their second world tour in 2024. The SYNK: Parallel Line tour will start in Seoul with two back-to-back shows. The tour will conclude in Bangkok. As per the official poster, more dates will be announced soon.

2024 aespa LIVE TOUR – SYNK PARALLEL LINE – Coming Soon2 https://t.co/9oo7vP4ReA 2024.06.29 ~ 2024.06.30 ?서울 잠실 실내체육관 (Jamsil Indoor stadium, Seoul) ? 멜론 티켓¬( https://t.co/YR5HKUo13a ) 2024.05.03 8PM (KST) / 팬클럽 선예매 2024.05.08 8PM (KST) / 일반 예매… pic.twitter.com/9JGjYgX9p3 — aespa (@aespa_official) April 25, 2024

Dates and cities of Aespa World Tour 2024 include:

June 29, 2024: Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul, South Korea (6 p.m. KST)

June 30, 2024: Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul, South Korea (5 p.m. KST)

July 6, 2024: Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

July 7, 2024: Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan

July 10, 2024: Aichi Sky Expo, Nagoya, Japan

July 11, 2024, 2024: Aichi Sky Expo, Nagoya, Japan

July 14, 2024: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

July 15, 2024: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

July 20, 2024: Singapore

July 27, 2024: Asue Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan

July 28, 2024: Asue Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan

August 3, 2024: Hong Kong, China

August 10, 2024: Taipei, Taiwan

August 17, 2024: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

August 18, 2024: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

August 24, 2024: Jakarta, Indonesia

August 31, 2024: Sydney, New South Wales

September 2, 2024: Melbourne, Victoria

September 21, 2024: Macau, China

September 28, 2024: Bangkok, Thailand

September 29, 2024: Bangkok, Thailand

In other news, Aespa will release their forthcoming full-length album Armageddon on May 27 at 6 p.m. KST, 5 a.m. ET, 2 a.m. PT, and 10 a.m. BST. The pre-released single, “Supernova,” will drop on May 13 at 6 p.m. KST.

The post Aespa World Tour 2024: Dates and Cities of K-Pop Concerts Revealed appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

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10 K-pop Idols With Busiest Individual Schedules in 2023: GOT7 Youngjae, Red Velvet Wendy, More!

These K-pop idols are booked and busy! Even without group activities, GOT7 Youngjae, Red Velvet Wendy l, and more were the busiest in K-pop idols in 2023!

The K-pop schedule app BLIP released its 2023 Year-End Settlement Schedule Report. This data helps fandom communities look back on the individual activities of K-pop idol members.

In particular, this was created by analyzing and summing both official and informal schedules by hundreds of artists.

10 K-pop Idols With Busiest Individual Schedules in 2023: GOT7 Youngjae, Red Velvet Wendy, More!

The schedules may include celebrations, broadcasts, releases, purchases, events, and other schedules registered from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.

GOT7 Youngjae Ranks #1 Artist With Most Solo Schedules in 2023

According to the analysis, the artist who had the most solo schedules this year was GOT7 Youngjae, who performed a total of 332 solo schedules.

ALSO READ: Here's Reason GOT7 Youngjae Won't Have Any Official Dating News

Amid the GOT7 hiatus, Youngjae has been continuously serving the K-pop scene with his music as a soloist. This year, he released a single album, "Err Day," and "Best Friend" in March.

In November, he also released his first full-length album, "Do It."

Youngjae has also participated in multiple photoshoots this year for various brands and appeared in numerous video content.

Top 10 K-pop Idols With Busiest Solo Schedules in 2023

Following Youngjae, Day6 Young K came in second with 259 schedules.

After being discharged from the military as a KATUSA soldier in April, the singer has been consistently working as a soloist, radio DJ, and entertainer.

In September, he released his solo album "Letters with Notes" and the single "7-ELEVEN with You" in November as a promotional song for the convenience store chain in Korea.

Super Junior Kyuhyun then completed the top 3 with 239 solo schedules. This year, the idol focused on his musical career with the play, "Ben-Hur."

He is also a host for various variety shows like "Peak Time," "Phantom Singers Season 4," "Nineteen to Twenty," "Bro & Marble," "Knights of the Lamp," "Sing Again Season 3," and "Single's Inferno Season 3."

The top 10 are mostly comprised of radio DJs with consistent schedules, like BTOB Minhyuk (186 schedules), Red Velvet Wendy (183 schedules), and Highlight Lee Gi Kwang (152 schedules), ranking them fourth, sixth and eighth, respectively.

Red Velvet Receives Rave Reviews for 'Chill Kill' Teaser: 'They're truly concept queens'

In the rankings, it is also noteworthy that there are several active idol members, including Super Junior Heechul (184 schedules/5th place), and WJSN Dayoung (118 schedules/9th place).

Lastly, SHINee Key and Minho, who have been active for well over 10 years, entered the rankings as seventh and 10th place with 177 and 110 schedules, in order.

Earlier, the analysis result of idol members who had the most schedules this year was found to be IVE An Yujin. She performed a whopping 447 schedules.

This is the result of her personal activities such as entertainment and advertising as well as her album group activities.

Following her, NCT Mark took the top 5 with 433 schedules, ZEROBASEONE Zhang Hao (429), STAYC Yoon (423), and ZEROBASEONE Sung Hanbin (423).

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson.

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MONSTA X’s I.M announces 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour

Featuring concerts in Asia, the US and Europe

South Korean singer I.M , a member of K-pop boyband MONSTA X , has announced his upcoming 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour, featuring concerts in Asia, the US and Europe.

READ MORE: Shownu X Hyungwon on their laidback remake of 2PM’s ‘I Hate You’ for Spotify Singles: “It’s a reminder of our past and present”

Today (April 22), I.M announced his massive 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour, which will feature 19 concerts from May to September this year. The tour is named after the singer’s latest mini-album , which same out earlier this month.

The MONSTA X member will kick-off his tour this May with a two-date concert in Seoul, South Korea. Following a one-month break, the singer will bring his tour to Europe from late-July to early-August, with performances in London, Paris, Berlin and more.

Across the rest of August, I.M will tour North American. The concert will feature seven dates in the US, including states such as New York, California and Texas, plus two shows in Canada. In September 2024, the K-pop idol will head to Asia, with three East Asian dates alongside a sole Southeast Asian performance.

The venue and ticketing information for I.M’s 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour have yet to be announced. Keep tabs on this page for the latest updates.

The dates for I.M’s 2024 ‘Off The Beat’ world tour are:

MAY 2024 25: Seoul, South Korea 26: Seoul, South Korea

JULY 2024 26: London, United Kingdom 28: Paris, France

3rd Gen K-Pop Idol Earns Praise For His “Affordable” Concert Tickets

Concert tickets are continuing to go up in price , much to K-Pop fans’ dismay, as their favorite groups and idols tour worldwide. Yet, one K-Pop idol surprised his fans recently with his unexpectedly “affordable” tickets.

MONSTA X rapper I.M recently made his solo comeback with his third EP Off The Beat. It includes six tracks, including “LURE,” “Bust it,” “X0,” “Skyline,” “MMI,” and “nbdy.”

Now, I.M is embarking on his first-ever solo headline tour, 2020 ‘Off The Beat’ World Tour, kicking off in Seoul. He will tour European and North American cities before concluding the tour in Asia.

I.M will perform in a total of 18 cities. Pre-sale began on April 26 with fans’ pre-sale codes, and the general sale will start on April 29 at 10 am PDT and 8 am EDT.

I.M | Sony Music Entertainment Korea Inc

MONBEBEs were excited about I.M’s tour already. Yet, they were even more excited when they saw the prices.

For most stops, the general admission costs around $50 USD, while VIP tickets, which include soundcheck and send-off, are around $100 USD. Netizens were pleasantly surprised by the affordable prices, considering more and more artists’ concert ticket prices continually increased.

Nah cause Changkyun is really proving that solo tours can have benefits INCLUDED at a REASONABLE price. Soundcheck and send off under $100 (for the Boston and NYC show). Smaller venues and from what I can see they’re selling well/out!! Truly love to see it pic.twitter.com/ohLnWfZwZF — Dyani (@dy4ni_) April 24, 2024

VIP FOR $125.14 WE LOVE YOU SO FUCKING MUCH CHANGKYUN!!! pic.twitter.com/EnjphYzNbT — kara ( ∙̆.̯∙̆) (@nunugon) April 24, 2024

back to affordable prices 😳😮‍💨 first BM, now Changkyun🔥🔥 $99 for soundcheck and send off?! UNHEARD OF NOWADAYS pic.twitter.com/8WxpLalvCD — ⁷ (@bambamstrash) April 24, 2024

I.M’s affordable tickets aren’t the only thing earning him praise. Portions of the ticket sales for I.M’s Boston, MA, show will go to charity The Shout Syndicate . I.M lived in Boston for three years, so it’ll be a special concert.

changkyun’s WORLD TOUR in BOSTON 🌎 “$0.25 from each ticket (for the show in Boston) will go to ‘The Shout Syndicate’, a volunteer-run fundraising effort, who raises money to help youth-led arts programs at proven non-profit youth development organizations in Greater Boston” pic.twitter.com/UDthtduonV — aurora :): fan account | meeting first&khao (@ckyunstd) April 25, 2024

Also I find it so cute that a little of each ticket to Changkyun’s Boston show goes to a charity. That’s essentially his American hometown, y’all 🥺 — caribebe (@neonnightlites) April 24, 2024

Recently, it was revealed that due to popular demand, there will be a second concert in Los Angeles, and New York’s venue has been upgraded.

I.M WORLD TOUR 2024 <Off The Beat> 📍LA Due to popular demand, we are adding 2nd night on Sept. 1st! 📍NY Due to popular demand, we are upgrading to Brooklyn Paramount on Aug 12! All original tickets will be honored. https://t.co/XYTZbihw9X — I.M (아이엠) (@IMxSMEK) April 25, 2024

Support I.M as he embarks on this next chapter in his career!

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K-pop weekend: Tomorrow X Together, Zerobaseone and others to impress at 2024 Music Bank Belgium World Tour stop

Tomorrow x together, zerobaseone and other k-pop acts to stop in antwerp, belgium, this weekend for the first 2024 music bank concert..

Looking forward to another weekend K-pop concert series? The 2024 edition of KBS' Music Bank in Antwerp, Belgium, is here to cure your blues.

Tomorrow X Together, Zerobaseone and other K-pop groups to take the stage at Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, on April 20, 2024.(Instagram)

Announced in December 2023, the South Korean national broadcaster KBS pulled the curtain on the upcoming stop of the ongoing Music Bank World Tour series that kicked off in 2011 in Japan. The tour has so far done its rounds all around the globe, with myriads of K-pop acts performing live in international cities, including Tokyo, Paris, Jakarta, Mexico City, Hong Kong and more.

For the first 2024 live concert to keep the Music Bank dice rolling, several 4th Generation K-pop acts are heading to the largest and most famous concert venue in Belgium - Sportpaleis in Antwerp - on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

2024 Music Bank lineup for Antwerp concert

According to kpopplanet.eu, boy groups Tomorrow X Together (TXT), Oneus, Zerobaseone, RIIZE and girl groups StayC and (G)I-DLE will serve awe-inspiring tunes for the next stop of the Music Bank World Tour, which last dropped its Korean harmonies in Paris and Mexico City in 2023.

Also read | BTS V's involvement in pro-military ‘double dragons’ video stirs online controversy

After their show-stopping performance in Belgium, Zerobaseone members will swiftly fly back to Seoul for the upcoming Seoul Festa 2024 Opening Party scheduled to take place on May 1, 2024. They will also be delivering stunning concert pieces at the M Countdown stage of 2024 KCON in Japan on the second day of the three-day music extravaganza.

Meanwhile, the HYBE Labels boy band TXT released its sixth mini-album, minisode 3: Tomorrow, on April 1.

Big Hit's official synopsis of the 7-piece record describes it as “a story of a boy who remembers a past promise and goes in search of “you” who he made the promise with. The boy recalls the innocent aspirations that he dreamed of with “you” in his youth and decides to find “you” and move forward to tomorrow. The boy says that tomorrow with “you” is hope and salvation.”

NewJeans, The New Six (TNX), StayC, AB6IX, ITZY and (G)I-DLE took the audience by surprise with their daunting stage presence in Mexico City in October 2023.

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Aespa World Tour 2024: Dates and Cities of K-Pop Concerts Revealed

S M Entertainment’s girl group Aespa has announced their 2024 world tour details, including dates and cities. The group will release their comeback album on May 27 and embark on their 2024 SYNK: Parallel Line tour in June.

Dates and cities of Aespa World Tour 2024 explored

Dates and cities of Aespa World Tour 2024 include:

June 29, 2024: Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul, South Korea (6 p.m. KST)
June 30, 2024: Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Seoul, South Korea (5 p.m. KST)
July 6, 2024: Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
July 7, 2024: Marine Messe Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
July 10, 2024: Aichi Sky Expo, Nagoya, Japan
July 11, 2024, 2024: Aichi Sky Expo, Nagoya, Japan
July 14, 2024: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
July 15, 2024: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
July 20, 2024: Singapore
July 27, 2024: Asue Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan
July 28, 2024: Asue Arena Osaka, Osaka, Japan
August 3, 2024: Hong Kong, China
August 10, 2024: Taipei, Taiwan
August 17, 2024: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
August 18, 2024: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
August 24, 2024: Jakarta, Indonesia
August 31, 2024: Sydney, New South Wales
September 2, 2024: Melbourne, Victoria
September 21, 2024: Macau, China
September 28, 2024: Bangkok, Thailand
September 29, 2024: Bangkok, Thailand

In other news, Aespa will release their forthcoming full-length album Armageddon on May 27 at 6 p.m. KST, 5 a.m. ET, 2 a.m. PT, and 10 a.m. BST. The pre-released single, "Supernova," will drop on May 13 at 6 p.m. KST.

The post Aespa World Tour 2024: Dates and Cities of K-Pop Concerts Revealed appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More .

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Meet 2024’s ‘American Idol’ Top 10 Contestants

Up close and personal with the top singers of season 22.

By Fred Bronson

Fred Bronson

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Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

For 22 seasons and running, American Idol has unveiled which contestants have qualified for the competition’s most elite tier, the top 10. This season is no exception, with the names of the final 10 being announced on Monday (April 22) evening’s live broadcast on ABC.

For over a decade now, Billboard has been first in line to sit down with each finalist and conduct their first in-depth interviews. Earlier this week, Billboard sat down with the top 14 performers to talk about their formative years, their Idol experiences to date and how they envision their futures.

On Sunday (April 21), the top 14 performed songs by members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (the Rock Hall’s Class of 2024 was also revealed during the episode by Ryan Seacrest and Rock Hall member Lionel Richie). At the end of the two-hour episode, Jordan Anthony and Nya were eliminated from the competition.

On Monday night, the theme was Billboard No. 1 Hits, a subject first presented in season two and again in season four. The episode saw the end of two more journeys, with contestants Roman Collins and Jayna Elise leaving the show.

Below, Billboard goes deep with season 22’s top 10 contestants as well as the four contestants eliminated over the last few days.

To quote Ryan Seacrest, here they are, in no particular order. (Well, that isn’t strictly true, as we present them alphabetically – first the newly-minted top 10 and then the four singers who were eliminated over the last two days).

Jack Blocker

Born : June 8, 1998 – Dallas, Texas

Musical Influences: John Prine, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, OutKast, Tyler the Creator, White Stripes, Green Day

First Idol Experience: “I was four when the show started. My parents watched the first season and said we were all going to watch the next year, so I remember Ruben (Studdard) and Clay (Aiken).”

Jack Blocker did not grow up in a musical family. His earliest memories of music are from the traditional church he attended as a child. “Once a month, someone would come in with an acoustic guitar and they would do stripped-down worship music and I thought it was cool. In high school I was listening to older country artists and that’s when I fell in love with music. At 16 I picked up the guitar and tried to learn their songs. I attended a Christian high school and played in a student-led worship band. That’s when I figured out I could sing and started writing songs in my bedroom for fun.”

Blocker is self-taught on guitar thanks to YouTube. He still hasn’t taken any lessons and never had vocal coaching until he auditioned for American Idol . The first song he wrote was “Finally Home,” which he recorded with the band he had in college, Rightfield. They played gigs while attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where Blocker majored in communications. “When bands would come through, we’d message them to see if we could open for them. Then we did some traveling and were able to make half a living playing gigs.”

At this point, Blocker had not decided on making music as a full-time job. “I was considering every career besides being a musician. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had no real perception of what having a career in music would look like. Growing up in Dallas, I didn’t really know anyone who did that.”

In 2022, Blocker became a solo artist. “My wife and I and my bandmate Reed Hoelscher moved to Nashville. We weren’t experiencing that much growth in Dallas and so we tried to push ourselves. It was difficult. In Dallas and Arkansas, we were the only people performing alt-rock music. In Nashville, everyone is doing the same thing and probably a little better than you and they know more people than you. Trying to make an impression was a bit of a culture shock. We were competing with all the other artists around us and we were losing. I realized I needed to write. My wife was really supportive. She felt this was something I was supposed to be doing, so I started making music that I really cared about and doing it on my own.”

Blocker has already learned a valuable lesson from his Idol journey. “I have been encouraged throughout the whole process to be myself as an artist, to find your wheelhouse and go 100% toward that. I haven’t been trying to compete with anybody else on the show, like go head-to-head and out sing this one person. I’ve been getting to sing songs that I love and I’ve just been really encouraged throughout the show that people respond to that authenticity. Luke said, ‘If you’re doing Jack Blocker, you’re doing the right thing.’ That meant the world to me.”

McKenna Faith Breinholt

McKenna Breinholt at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : Aug. 19, 1998 – Mesa, Ariz.

Favorite Alums: David Archuleta, David Cook, Lauren Spencer-Smith

Musical Influences: Adele, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift

First Idol Experience: “I watched the season that David Cook and David Archuleta were on. That was the most memorable Idol for me.”

Born in Mesa, Ariz., and raised in nearby Gilbert, McKenna Faith Breinholt’s earliest musical memory is from when she was seven years old, playing songs by ear on her piano. “I would hear music on television and would go to my little keyboard and pick them out. I thought it was awesome that I could play. My parents thought it was really cool and they bought a bigger keyboard. The first song I played on that was ‘Apologize’ by Timbaland and OneRepublic.”

Breinholt confesses, “I took piano lessons to learn theory. I was cheating the whole time. I wasn’t listening to it, and then I got caught. Yeah, I’m not great with piano lessons! I couldn’t sing very well at the time. I wasn’t really a great singer until I picked up the guitar. My guitar teacher required all students to sing, and that’s how I found my voice.”

By the time she was 14, she was performing in talent shows and in church on Sundays, just with piano or guitar. “I never was accompanied by anyone. I’d always play by myself. Then I sang in my high school talent show and that was probably one of the best performances ever for me. People saw that video and asked me to start working with them after that. Rob Gardner, who Breinholt describes as “a crazily talented musician from Arizona,” had her cover Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” and Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).” “He had me take great iconic songs and turn them into orchestra pieces with choir and we went around performing in Arizona every year. One of my videos with him (“Hallelujah”) got over 12 million views on YouTube.

Although Breinholt said during her Idol audition that her family has no musical talent, she corrected herself while talking to Billboard . “They were offended when I said that. They all have great ears. My dad can play a little bit at the piano. My grandpa plays the guitar. Everyone can mess around here and there.”

Asked what the most valuable lesson she has learned on her Idol journey so far, Breinholt says, “To have a good time and cherish every single moment and make friends too. Yes, you have to be in a certain mindset when you’re on stage and when you’re rehearsing, but we’re never going to get this opportunity again. It’s all about the people and the things that we’re doing and being in the moment because it’s going to go away real quick.”

The Arizonan already has a vision for her future. “My ultimate goal is to release a song after the show and it takes off and I’m touring and performing in front of hundreds of thousands. I know it’s going to take a lot of work to get there, but that’s the goal.”

Abi Carter at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : July 31, 2002 – Indio, Calif.

Favorite Alums: Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Archuleta, Adam Lambert, Jordin Sparks

Musical Influences: Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, My Chemical Romance, Paramore

First Idol Experience: “We always watched the fails. That used to be the greatest part of this show, seeing people absolutely lose their minds in an audition room. I was at my aunt’s house in Idyllwild [Calif.] and I remember looking at Carrie Underwood and telling my mom, ‘I want to do it now.’ And she said, ‘You’re not old enough.’ ‘Well, how freaking old do I have to be?’ I was eight.”

“My mom always sang lullabies to us,” Abi Carter says when asked about her earliest musical memory. “But the first true song I remember is the intro credits song to (Nickelodeon’s 2006 film) Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses . There are no words. It’s so beautiful to me and I wanted to be a ballerina and a singer.”

Carter isn’t the only singer in her family. “My mom got a full scholarship to university. She went on a voice scholarship, but she had kids and that made it impossible for her to continue. All my siblings sing. I was the only one who really loved it and wanted to pursue it and felt a deep connection with music. But we’re always singing around the house.”

As a young girl, Carter says she idolized Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. “I grew up in a really religious family, so we weren’t allowed to listen to all kinds of music, but my mom bought a Carrie Underwood album and it got stuck in our little CD player in our old broken down van and so that was all we could listen to for a really long time. So I love Carrie Underwood. I’m not a country singer, but sometimes I’ll sing something that’s just a little bit country.”

Carter wrote her first song relatively recently. “It’s called ‘Still Breathing.’ I wrote it about a friend of mine who I was very close to growing up. “We would sit in her computer room and talk about the future and about what life was going to be like and how she was going to decorate her apartment when she moved out. When she went away to college, I was so excited for her because she was so excited to start her life and she ended up getting into drugs and it just absolutely changed who she was chemically. I wrote that song about her not being able to respond anymore. I don’t even know if she is still alive. I didn’t know if she was still breathing. I wrote that in late 2020/early 2021.”

Reflecting on lessons learned so far from being on American Idol , Carter explains, “I grew up being home schooled. When I entered high school, I went for less than a semester and had to leave to help my family. And I just assumed that coming to Los Angeles to audition that everybody here was going to be fake. I had a mindset of what Hollywood was like and what the music business was like and thought I was going to be around gorgeous people who are gorgeous because of the plastic surgery and would treat me like I was less than. But what I’ve learned is that friends are so much closer than you think and all you have to do is get out to make them. I didn’t grow up with a lot of friends. I only had one at a time. Any prejudice I had has been sucked out of me because I’m surrounded by many people who are so different and yet we’re all the same. There’s something that you can relate to in everybody. I’ve learned that the world is so much bigger but so much more connected than we think.”

As for her future, Carter says, “I want to be an artist. I’ve never felt so passionately about something. I went to school and got a psychology degree because I figured if I can’t express my emotions through something artistically, maybe I can just help other people express their emotions. I was going to be a family therapist.” But then she was asked to audition for American Idol , and she thought, “I’ve never done something for myself. I had to start working young and leave high school to help my family. When this opportunity came along, I thought, ‘If I get a master’s in psychology and have a stable job, I’ll never have this opportunity to pursue what I love because I’ll have so much more on my plate then.’ I want to perform. I want people to be able to relate to my songs the way that we relate to Taylor Swift songs. I used to be scared about stage presence, like I don’t know what to do with my arms. I’m not a dancer. When you think about a home-schooled kid, I’m about as awkward as they come. But I’ve never felt so energetic before. It’s so much fun.”

Julia Gagnon

Born : March 29, 2002 – Guatemala City, Guatemala

Favorite Alums: Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, Wé Ani

Musical Influences: Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson, Cynthia Erivo

First Idol Experience: Always aware of it, her parents didn’t watch TV, so she didn’t see a complete season until last year, when she and her now-fiancé watched all of the episodes of season 21 on Hulu to prepare for a local Idol -type competition.

Julia Gagnon was born in Guatemala and after being adopted, was raised in Cumberland, Maine. There was a grand piano in the house and Gagnon remembers banging on the keys as a two-year-old until her parents bought her a toy piano. While she doesn’t recall, her mother assures her that as a very young child, she would sing around the house and in pre-school. That stopped until middle school, when Gagnon saw two musicals on Broadway – Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera . “ Phantom was my favorite and I thought, ‘I really want to do that. It would be amazing.’ I entered a talent show and sang ‘Popular’ from Wicked . My chorus teacher Nora Krainis heard me sing and said, ‘I’m not going to let you avoid this anymore. You need to share this with the world and I’m going to help you.’ She was a very strict woman and I replied, ‘Alright. I’ll do what you say.’ She gave me some solos in our chorus concerts and then I was in some of our high school musicals, like Beauty and the Beast , Sister Act and The Addams Family .” I only sang in school. Competitions made me nervous and I didn’t like the idea of auditioning.”

Like the rest of the top 10, Gagnon’s Idol journey began months before season 22 started airing on ABC. From then until today, what is the most important thing she has learned? “It may sound cheesy, but to be yourself. It’s easier said than done. For a long time during this competition, I was trying to be a heightened version of myself, singing hard-hitting soul songs every time. But then I realized that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you always need to. You can hold back. You can let loose. You can have intimate moments and diva moments and it can all be you. You could be vulnerable. You could be soft. You can change your tone. You can tell a story and that is really important. The last couple of rounds, I was struggling with who I was.”

Gagnon’s biggest surprise during her Idol run so far is the competition itself. “We’re such a close-knit family, being together for so long and learning from each other. It doesn’t feel like a competition anymore. It’s such a diverse group that I didn’t expect it to be so familial and supportive.” Support is nothing new to Gagnon. “My parents supported my music even before I knew I wanted to do it. My mom put me in piano lessons and I hated it. She had me play trombone and I hated it. But she’s always been pushing me to be artistic and creative. I think my dad just wants me to be me and said he wasn’t really pushing me in any direction but the second I said, ‘Music is very important to me,’ he’s been unwaveringly supportive and in such a dad way too. He cheers on the sidelines like it’s sports. It’s not a theater cheer. It’s like stand up and ‘Let’s go!’ But I love that. They’re both very excited for me.”

Looking ahead, Gagon says, “If I could design my future, I would incorporate the things that are important to me as much as I can into a music career. So still staying close to family and still writing songs that are close to my heart. That would be the dream, to have everything that I need to support me and having enough love to share and give out my music and performance and art.”

Triston Harper

Born : June 17, 2008 – Mobile, Ala.

Favorite Alums: Colin Stough, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chayce Beckham

Musical Influences: Johnny Cash, Charles Johnson

First Idol Experience: “I’ve always watched since I was a little boy. My favorite thing was the funny auditions where people would walk in and they would sing and we would just die and then someone would walk in and just blow your mind.”

Raised in McIntosh, Ala., Triston Harper found music before he was even born. “My mama sang nursery rhymes to me when I was in the womb. Later, she taught me how to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ on the piano.”

When he was six, Harper sang in church with his grandaddy. “It was homecoming and there was a butt load of people there and they requested for me to sing. So he got up there with me and we sang and everybody loved it. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Harper continued to sing in school. “They always put me out front. I sang. I preached. When we moved to Conway in Arkansas, they put me in choir to learn how to read music. After that, I forgot everything, and I’ve been unable to read music ever since. So I just listen and I’ll grab my guitar and pick it up.” Harper wrote his first song when he was seven. “It’s called ‘I’m Yours, You’re Mine.’ It is God talking to me. I still sing it.”

Even though he has watched American Idol all of his life, Harper says he didn’t have the courage to audition until last year. “My grandaddy said, ‘One day, boy, it might be you.’ I never thought it would happen. An ad [for auditions] kept popping up and I kept swiping it away. The Lord spoke to me and said, ‘If you take a step toward me, I’ll take two toward you.’ So I signed up with all my information and I’m here.”

Only 15, Harper has already learned valuable lessons during his time on Idol . “When your mentors and your vocal coach tell you to do something, they’ve got your best interests and they want to see you progress far in this competition. So be yourself and make the right song choices and put your faith in yourself.”

One of Harper’s mentors this season was Jelly Roll, who said the youngster had the soul of a 75-year-old. “I get that a lot,” Harper tells Billboard . “I try to give people a lot of advice and they say I’m young but they take it and go a long way with it. I’ve been through a lot and I know what to do in situations and I give people hope and courage so they don’t turn to drugs or alcohol. My teachers are surprised because I’ve taught them a lot about decisions they’ve made that weren’t the best. They say, ‘I should have listened to Triston.’”

The teenager admits it was surreal standing in front of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. “The first time I did, I was shocked. The second time I was like, ‘Okay.’ The third time I was getting used to them and now I look at them as aunts and uncles. They’re family now.”

Harper has taken in their advice. “Katy Perry told me about my pronunciation, that she wants to hear what I’m saying and I’ve tried my best in this competition to pronounce my words more than when they first met me. Lionel Richie told me to be me, to keep that old Alabama soul. Luke Bryan smiled at me and said I’m doing what I’m supposed to. When you hear that from people you look up to, it means the world.”

Asked what he wants his future to look like, it was clear he has given the subject a lot of thought. “I’ve got about 60 some acres, living in a nice home. We have four kids and I’ve been married to my wife about 20 some years and last Saturday I performed at an arena with people singing along with my songs.”

Kaibrienne at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : May 22, 2003 – Ogden, Utah

Favorite Alum: Carrie Underwood

Musical Influences: Katy Perry, Adele, Carrie Underwood

First Idol Experience: “I watched Carrie Underwood. She was a small-town girl living her small-town life and then her life changed overnight, and I related to her.”

Kaibrienne grew up an hour away from her birthplace, in Henefer, Utah. She describes it as a “super-small town.” She had two gateways to music. “I listened on YouTube, and I listened to my older sister sing. She would jam out in our car to Katy Perry hits like ‘California Gurls,’ ‘Teenage Dream’ and ‘Last Friday Night.’” So what was it like when Kaibrienne first met Katy? “I was freaking out. I could never have imagined that I would have the opportunity to meet her. I haven’t told her yet about my sister.”

Kaibrienne says her parents were not musical, but her sisters had leads and other parts in their high school musicals. “I thought that I would want to do that. I loved watching them in Les Misérables , Hairspray and The Music Man .”

In school, Kaibrienne was active in sports and cheerleading. “Then I was listening to a girl on YouTube sing ‘Hallelujah’ and I told my family I wanted to sing it at a school talent show. None of them knew I had been singing alone in my room so I sang it for them and they said I should definitely do that. My focus at the time was on tumbling but after that I loved singing.”

At the talent show, one of Kaibrienne’s teachers leaned over to her father and said, “She has a God-given gift. She’s going to do big things.”

“There weren’t a lot of opportunities, but my dad tried to find places where I could sing. I struggled with performance anxiety where my hands and feet and face would go numb. My throat would go dry. And so I never wanted to perform. I practiced and I hated it. I thought I sounded so much better than what I was able to give. Things fell apart with cheerleading and tumbling so I was trying to find my place in the world. I tried out for high school musicals and I was in Shrek , Into the Woods and High School Musical .

How did Kaibrienne overcome her anxiety? “My dad posted videos of me singing in the car on TikTok. They started going viral. He told me, ‘Look at all these people who believe in you.’ But I still wouldn’t sing outside of the car. Over the summer I was working in sales, knocking on people’s doors. I’m in the middle of Florida and a pastor opened his door. He didn’t know anything about me. But he said, ‘This isn’t what you were sent here to do. I feel like you have a dream that you are running from.’ I told him he was exactly right. He said, “God wouldn’t have given you this gift if there wasn’t a way to work through it. If you take this seriously, big things are going to happen for you in the next year.’”

That was the last door Kaibrienne knocked on. “The second I got home I started singing alone again. I studied guitar and began writing songs and then Idol reached out to me and everything fell into place.” So it’s no surprise what Kaibrienne has learned from her Idol journey to date. “I’ve learned to love myself in a lot of ways. Being on the show has instilled a lot of confidence in me that I didn’t have before. Even during my audition, I felt insecure. I’ve learned I’m here because I sound like me, not because I sound like anyone else. I’m here because I’m me and not anybody else and I feel like each round, I’ve grown more and more. I’ve worked through so much of the performance anxiety that I never thought I’d be able to work through.”

And what lies ahead? “I’m going to do this forever. I want to write music forever. I’ve always wanted to heal people through music the way that it’s healed me, and so that’s my goal.”

Kayko at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : June 14, 2000 – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Favorite Alums: Chris Daughtry, James Durbin

Musical Influences: Bon Jovi, Journey, Whitesnake, Queen, Ed Sheeran

First Idol Experience : “When Chris Daughtry got voted off, I wrote a handwritten letter to American Idol and said, ‘You made a mistake. This guy’s a star.’”

“I have older parents and they looked in the Yellow Pages to find a piano teacher. My dad said, ‘I want you to teach my son. He’s three years old. And the teacher said, ‘We normally like them to read English before they read music.’ My dad told him, ‘He reads, let’s get him in. We’ve got to start him early.’ So I went to his studio and my little legs didn’t touch the floor. I was swinging off the piano bench and I learned how to read music along with English. When I was 10, my parents asked if I actually liked taking lessons. I said, ‘I’ve been doing it forever, so I might as well keep doing it. It’s a part of my identity at this point.’”

Kayko says he was always a music kid. “I did classical piano competitions for a long time and then I always wanted to change the song and not play what’s on the page, so I did jazz. And I thought, ‘This really isn’t really my vibe. I’m a rocker. I would never do a singing competition, not even American Idol . I would never try out for that.’ And then I did theater.”

After appearing in musicals like Side Show , In the Heights , Ghost , Cabaret and 9 to 5 , Kayko turned to YouTube and Billboard to see what music was popular and was inspired to record cover songs. “I was definitely a YouTube kid and that’s how I learned how to produce my own music.”

Kayko attended Berklee College of Music for three semesters, until he realized he didn’t want go to school. “I quit and moved to Nashville. I needed to write and produce my own songs. I needed to book live shows. I had no mentorship or insight, just a dream of being an artist and putting out music.”

Kayko’s audition for Idol was unlike most other tryouts but he assures Billboard that what was shown on television was 100% true. “I don’t know if the world will ever believe that. One of my very good friends from college, Abby Blake, got a call to do American Idol and they wanted her to prepare two songs but said the accompanist would only play one. She said, ‘I feel more comfortable with you in the room.’”

Kayko agreed to go with her. They woke up at 4 a.m. for the Nashville audition and sat in a room all day without ever seeing the judges. The producers asked Blake to come back the next day and Kayko said he would return with her.

“Abby’s voice was shot and she wasn’t feeling well that day and I was thinking I have to break the ice for her, so I was probably talking way more than any accompanist has ever done before. Abby sang her song and got a yes. Katy Perry looks at me and says, ‘There’s something about you. You look like an artist.’ I said, ‘No, I’m not doing this.’ Abby said I should sing for these three music legends. I played an original song and they look at each other and tell me I’m going to Hollywood. What?!”

But Kayko had a huge conflict. “I booked a job in New York playing guitar for a new off-Broadway musical, Hard Road to Heaven , and I had this in place for a year. The guy who got me the gig put his neck on the line for me and now I have to call him and say, ‘I don’t know what to do. Katy Perry just told me that I have a thing and I need to go to Hollywood Week and I could get cut and get no airtime and lose this thing, or it could be great.’ He said, “I would never hold you back from doing something like that.’ So I spent a week and a half in New York and flew directly to L.A. for Hollywood Week. The only reason I went was for that chance for airtime and the potential viral moment and for my friend Abby. She got cut in Hollywood and I’m still here.”

It could have been an awkward situation, but it wasn’t. “Abby and I are real friends and we’re both in the music industry and know that it’s not personal. I didn’t take her spot. My dad always said, ‘If Simon Cowell walked into the bar and you’re playing a lousy gig, are you going to blow him away?’ And it actually happened with Katy Perry.”

Mia Matthews

Born : Dec. 7, 2004 – Gadsden, Ala.

Favorite Alums: Daniel Seavey, Clark Beckham, Nick Fradiani, Laci Kaye Booth

Musical Influences : Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, Kacey Musgraves

First Idol Experience: “I grew up watching the show. My older sister Sadie loved it. I had an American Idol karaoke machine. I would stand on my mini trampoline like a stage and then sing with my American Idol microphone.”

Born in Gadsden, Ala., Mia Matthews grew up in a very musical family 45 minutes down the road. “My dad was a heavy metal rock star, playing electric guitar. I’m told he toured with Whitesnake. My mom sang with Ernest Tubb and Barbara Mandrell. When I was three, my dad passed away and music was our therapy. It’s how we coped. My mom taught vocal lessons at our house. There’s never been a point in my life where I wasn’t surrounded by music.”

The middle child of seven, Matthews remembers taking road trips with her mother and siblings. “There’s not much to do in Alabama so we would drive around. Mama would play a game with us to see if we could find harmony. It started with, ‘I’m going to hit this note. See where you land.’ And then we sang ‘Jesus Loves Me.’”

Matthews sang in elementary school, but her mother pulled her out of public school and home schooled her children. “Singing was our passion and we would sing for anyone and everyone. My mom led worship at church – she was the choir director. One day when I was 11, we were shopping at Walmart and we sang the National Anthem for the cashier because she was having a bad day. A woman behind us recorded it and posted it on Facebook and it went viral.”

The family booked small shows in Centre, Ala., and performed at football games and festivals. “We moved our way up to Nashville and did shows on Broadway at Ole Red. I was 15 and my little sister was 13.”

Matthews never believed it would be possible to appear on American Idol . “This past summer I felt stagnant. I had just graduated from high school. I wanted to be a singer but how do I do that? What was the next step? I was searching for an opportunity but was it time to open the door to Idol ? Then I received a message asking if I wanted to audition and somehow I am here now.”

Mia asked her sister Jacy if she also wanted to audition. “She hopped on some of our virtual auditions and they loved her, too. So we both went to Nashville to audition for Katy, Luke and Lionel. We both got golden tickets and made it to Hollywood. I had been singing with my mom and sister in a trio for years. So we were very comfortable singing with each other but this was a brand-new experience. We were together but we were separate. It was really comforting to have her there because she is my best friend.”

Jacy was cut during Hollywood Week, leaving Mia to compete on her own. “It hurt me, but she took it like a champ. She’s been so supportive. I’m blessed to have such a good relationship with her.”

Will Moseley

Born : July 10, 2000 – Douglas, Georgia

Favorite Alums: Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson

Musical Influences: Bob Seger, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Blackberry Smoke

First Idol Experience: “In an interview I said I remember the season that Adam Lambert won, and they all looked at me and said, ‘He didn’t win.’ I was a kid, but I remember watching it.”

Growing up in Hazlehurst, Ga., Will Moseley always loved music. “My uncle drove a big semi-truck, and I would go on the road with him. He had a Bob Seger Greatest Hits CD and my mom listened to Shania Twain. There was a Shania CD in her car. We played the fire out of that thing. My dad was an earlier Kid Rock fan, so then we covered that genre and then I loved classic country music. That’s just part of the culture where I’m from. Waylon and Willie, George, Merle, Conway, all of that. As a kid, I remember we would go camping and every Friday night at 9 o’clock there was a local radio station that would play Johnny Paycheck’s ‘Old Violin.’ And so now if I’m playing a show, I’ll take an acoustic break in the middle of a full band show and it’s just me and an acoustic guitar playing ‘Old Violin.’”

Music became an important part of Moseley’s life when he was 15. “You know how parents are when Christmas comes around. ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ I told my mom I wanted a guitar. I thought it would be cool to learn how to play. She looked at me and said, ‘Are you going to learn how to play? I’m not buying something else to put in a closet.’ I told her, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ She bought the guitar and I picked it up and my fingers hurt. My brain didn’t work with my hand. I didn’t even think they were connected to the same body. And after two days it went in the closet. It was a disappointment to my mom at the time, but a few years later I was in college and I took my guitar to school with me.”

When he ended up with a dorm room to himself for a few months, he started playing around with the guitar again. “I decided to teach myself. After Christmas break I didn’t have a TV in my room so all of my free time went into learning how to play guitar.”

Moseley worked at a printing company during the COVID years, when a lot of people were laid off. “They never brought me back and I had a lot of time on my hands so I played guitar and learned more songs and developed my singing. I found little places that would pay me a couple hundred bucks here and there to play. That’s how I paid my way through college.”

Moseley graduated from Georgia Southern in May 2023 with a degree in biology. He had enough gigs lined up to pay his bills for a few months. “If I didn’t give being a full-time musician a shot I would regret it. So I gave myself a year and said if it wasn’t working by then, I’d get a real job. Eleven months later I’m working with Gene Simmons and Meghan Trainor. If you told me that a year ago, I would have called you a liar.”

Moseley says he has learned a lot during his time on Idol , especially from mentors Jelly Roll and Gene Simmons. “They both said the same thing: ‘You’re in the right lane. You just have to own it. You’re here for a reason and you have the voice to do this for the rest of your life.’ Of course, there’s going to be turns and hills and ups and downs and all that, but the biggest thing I’ve learned so far truthfully has probably been humbleness and that connections will take you further than anything else in the music business.”

Moseley has a clear eye on the road ahead. “All I want to do is get on a bus and drive around the country and play music for a living. If I play music until the day I die, I’ll die happy.”

Emmy Russell

Born : Jan. 10, 1999 – Nashville, Tenn.

Favorite Alums: Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson

Musical Influences: Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus

First Idol Experience: Watching on her bed, singing along. “I loved the funny auditions.”

“I was supposed to be born on March 12,” says Emmy Russell. “I was a preemie born on Jan. 10, my meemaw and grandpa’s anniversary.” (Meemaw being the legendary Loretta Lynn). “I was in an incubator for 30 days because of an undeveloped lung. Ironically, I sing.”

As soon as Russell was out of the incubator, she was on the road with her mother, who managed Lynn. “Meemaw took me on stage and showed me to everyone, saying, ‘This is Emmy Rose.’”

That was one introduction to music. “My first memory of music was when I was two, seeing a piano player. I was singing my ABCs and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” When I was four, I wrote stories and then I wrote my first song for a second-grade talent show. It was called ‘Try Again,’ about not giving up.”

Russell continued to write songs at this early age, including “Identity.” “Which is ironic,” she says, “because that’s been my war – what is my identity? In school, all the girls would be chasing boys and I was writing songs. I was a bit overweight, wearing big T-shirts and being quiet. I was bullied a lot. I started playing guitar and put my stories into songs.”

Russell’s grandmother had a huge influence on her. “She had this charm about her. She wrote the truth. It must be embarrassing writing a song about your husband cheating on you all the time, but she did. People would ask her about that and she would say, ‘I still love him.’ Her gutsiness is the thing I’ve taken the most from her, but I didn’t realize that until recently. She made you feel like she was so likeable. She would sing ‘Fist City’ but it was never hateful. She smiled whenever she sang it.”

In middle school, Russell was in the chorus. During her high school years, she continued to be on the road with her meemaw. “I opened up for her.” That actually started when Russell was in fourth grade. “She’d call me up and I’d sing two songs. I had an original and then one everyone knew. She’d tell me, ‘People want to hear a song they know. Until you have a song that’s your original one, people want to hear a song that they know so they can sing with you.’” During those high school years, Russell would open with five or six songs. “When I was 15, she passed me down her guitar. It started to feel like we were business partners and that created a lot of pressure. I quit when I was 18.”

Asked about lessons learned while on Idol , Russell says, “Trust your spirit. For some people, it’s God. Just trusting that little voice inside. Being true to yourself is the biggest lesson I’m learning right now. Because when I’m not, my voice gets really pitchy. I get more nervous when I’m not myself.”

Looking ahead, Russell says she wants to travel to different countries. “I love kids. Music is my passion, but I want to use that to help other people. If you’re not, then what’s the point?”

Jordan Anthony (Eliminated)

Jordan Anthony at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : Dec. 16, 2004 – Melbourne, Australia

Favorite Alums: Adam Lambert, Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Spencer-Smith, Iam Tongi, Guy Sebastian ( Australian Idol )

Musical Influences: Ed Sheeran, Adele, Sam Smith, Bruno Mars

First Idol Experience: “When I was younger, I used to watch the compilation videos like ‘The Best of American Idol’ or ‘Craziest American Idol Auditions.’ I loved them as a kid. I thought that could be me one day.”

Jordan Anthony has heard this story from his mother but finds it hard to believe: “When I was one and a half I’d be in my parents’ car and when this certain song came on the radio, I would sing along and hit this one note pitch-perfectly every time. That is the moment my parents realized I might be a singer.”

Anthony grew up around music. “My dad was a vocal coach. My parents met doing musical theater, so I’ve always been in that world.” When he was five, his parents put him into musical theater shows. “I realized a couple years later that wasn’t really the thing for me.” At seven, he wrote his first song, “Wait,” about being bullied at school. “I had some tough times at school. I’d come home from classes and sit down at the piano. I was never good at talking about my feelings, so for me, music was an outlet because I could express those things.”

When he was 10, his family moved from Melbourne to Perth. “I busked on the streets there. My mom was my roadie. There’s nothing scarier than standing in a random spot, singing to people walking by. But it helped me develop my confidence and my stage presence. I sang for money and saved up until I had enough to record my first album, One Word , when I was 12.”

Anthony still lives in Perth, so he had a long journey to come to America to audition before the judges on American Idol . But this is not the first time he has performed for millions of viewers. When he was 14, he represented Australia at the 2019 edition of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest , performing a song he co-wrote, “We Will Rise.” “I looked very different back then,” he tells Billboard . “It was unbelievable to perform on a world stage in an arena full of people with Australian flags flying everywhere. It was incredible and I met incredible people, other young artists like myself from all around the world and I made friends everywhere. It was such an honor to be able to do that.”

Although his Idol journey came to an end on Sunday (April 21), he says he learned a lot during his time on the show. “One skill that I’ve learned is to control my energy and my emotions and my nerves. There are a lot of ups and downs. One minute we’re going onstage. It’s high energy and then you might be sitting around for a few hours and then you’ve got to be ready for showtime again. I’ve been lucky to always have a good head on my shoulders and be able to manage my emotions, but in the pressure cooker environment, it gets tough sometimes.”

Helping Anthony along the way was sage advice from Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. “They’ve mentioned that even when I was singing a cover, they felt my artistry through the performance. That meant so much because I always want people to see who I am through the emotions I’m conveying and the song I’m singing.”

Roman Collins (Eliminated)

Roman Collins at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : Sept. 18, 1999 – Natchitoches, La.

Favorite Alums: Haley Reinhart, Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet, Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Tori Kelly, Kelly Clarkson

Musical Influences: The Clark Sisters, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Andre Crouch, Timothy Wright, John Legend, Blossom Dearie, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker

First Idol Experience: “I was a bit young when Kelly Clarkson won. Then I saw Ruben Studdard and Fantasia.”

Roman Collins is a worship leader who grew up in Coushatta, La. “Most people say I started in church,” he tells Billboard . “I’m still in church, where I am also a choir director. I’m told that when I was three years old sitting in my mother’s lap, I got up, grabbed a mic and sang Vicki Yohe’s ‘Because Of Who You Are’ in front of everyone in church.” When he was a little older, Collins was always asking his teachers if he could sing in class. “How annoying is that?” he laughs. “I would hate to be a classmate of mine. “I have to study for this test and Roman wants to sing. Can we not do that?”

Collins was only aware of religious music until the third grade. “My uncle is a great musician and he would say this artist was doing R&B and I thought R&B was a group. I didn’t realize there were other genres besides gospel. Then I found out about Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Eventually I heard Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse, Blossom Dearie and B.B. King.”

Moving to Los Angeles in 2007, Collins went to a small high school that didn’t have music classes until he graduated. “Thanks a lot!” he exclaims. “When I was 16 I started going to open mics at places like Tha Juice Joint in Hollywood and the Pocket in Culver City. I would watch people from all different walks of life share their gift. It was the best thing ever. I would sing Musiq Soulchild, Marvin Gaye, John Legend and Gnarls Barkley. That opened me up to more R&B and awakened my creative bones.” Then Collins started to get paying gigs. “In December 2018 I sang behind Childish Gambino at the Forum [in Inglewood, Calif.].”

Auditioning for American Idol was always in the back of his mind, he says. “But I did not pursue it. When I was 14 there was a woman visiting our family’s church. She told me, ‘Young man, I want you to write American Idol and put it on your door and look at it every day.’ I never did it, but I never forgot her prophesizing that to me.” But that door opened on a Wednesday in November 2023 when Collins was asked to submit a couple of his videos to the show. “By the following Tuesday I was in front of Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan. That changed my life forever.”

The main lesson Collins has learned since starting that journey is that “rest is vital,” he says. “I want to do this for the rest of my life and it is important to rest when you can. I have also learned that I have a platform that God has allowed and to use it for the better. I’ve changed by being more consistent vocally, doing what I have to do to get my voice ready. I’m eating better but I miss my ginger ale.” And what lies ahead? “Changing the world through love,” he answers without hesitation. “Changing the world through music. People ask me why I am so passionate. Because I had a second chance at life. When I was three, I was pronounced dead. I was in a coma for two weeks. The doctor said there was a 97% chance I was going to die. If I did come out of the coma, I would be brain dead for the rest of my life. So when you see me jumping, when you hear my laugh, I’m laughing at fear. I’m alive. I’m doing what I love. Some people are impacted through my gift. We have a saying in church, ‘The joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away.’ I want to import the same joy that He has given me.”

Jayna Elise (Eliminated)

Jayna Elise at American Idol's "Top 14 Reveal"

Born : Sept. 26, 2001 – Washington, D.C.

Favorite Alums: Michael J. Woodard, Catie Turner, Grace Kinstler

Musical Influences: Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Diana Ross & the Supremes, Journey, Queen, Mötley Crüe

First Idol Experience: She started watching season 3, the year Fantasia won.

“My grandparents had a rule: No TV until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. You could either play outside or listen to the oldies on the music channel they listened to. That’s what I grew up on. My whole family sings and some of my earliest memories are singing with my grandma at the piano. She taught me how to play the piano. When she and my grandfather were 19, they were in a band. They went to an audition in New York and she got scared and didn’t show up. Then she gave birth to my mom. My mom also sings, but never professionally.”

Elise was six years old when she wrote her first song. “I was in the back seat of the car and was mad because I was told to do something and I didn’t want to do it. That was kind of the vibe of the song: ‘I’m going solo, solo, solo.’ Sometimes it will pop into my head and I think I should do something with it.”

When Elise went to live with her mother, she started listening to music on YouTube. “I posted some covers. The first video that went viral was ‘Skyfall,’ the Adele song. It got 40,000 views in one month. My most-viewed video is me singing the gospel song ‘Take Me to the King.’ I was 11 and it has eight million views now.” That led to more performances at different churches and that same year, Elise joined the children’s group Kidz Bop. “We covered ‘All About That Bass’ and Meghan Trainor sent us a video message saying she couldn’t believe we were covering her song. And now I got to meet her because she is our mentor for Billboard ’s No. 1 Hits.”

After touring with Kidz Bop, Elise attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in the District of Columbia. “That’s where I became classically trained,” she says. “I sang opera there but I also learned how to actually sing. Before I was just going through the motions but my teacher Daphne Dunston Wharton taught me how to breathe correctly.”

Two years ago, Elise wanted to rebrand herself from the little girl singing with Kidz Bop. Having just moved to Los Angeles, she thought about auditioning for American Idol . She tried out for season 21 last year and went as far as the Showstoppers round during Hollywood Week.

“I definitely had my reservations about auditioning again. I saw people who came back last year and they didn’t make it as far as they had before. It is a risk coming back. But I knew that I had grown and that I had a better handle on everything.”

Elise says her most outstanding moment with the judges this season happened during Final Judgment, when the field was narrowed down to a top 24. “Hearing Lionel say you’re not a background singer anymore and that I made it into the top 24 was my goal. I was talking to another one of the contestants and she said, ‘After you get to where you thought you were going to make it, everything else is a gift.’ That put things in perspective for me, because getting to this point is an opportunity I’m really grateful for.”

Nya (Eliminated)

Born : Nov. 10, 1995 – Fort Meyers, Fla.

Favorite Alums: Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood

Musical Influences: Whitney Houston, Victoria Monét

First Idol Experience: Watched season one and decided she wanted to be on the show.

“Every Sunday when I would hear [the music of] Sade I knew it was our cleaning day. Mom and I would go to the laundromat. Throughout the day we’d listen to Barry White and African music. That’s my earliest memory of loving music and wanting to dance around and it made the chores seem like fun.”

It may be difficult to believe now but Nya grew up in a family that didn’t want her to become a professional musician. “My family would not pay for any type of music lessons because in my culture in Kenya, it is considered a hobby. It’s not really a life choice or a life career. I grew up in America, but I lived a very strict Kenyan lifestyle. At school, I was in the marching band. I was in band. I taught myself how to play instruments. I started off with clarinet. Went to saxophone, piano, guitar, and did a whole bunch of band-related instruments as well like trumpet. Vocally, if you’re playing an instrument, you can learn so much. So I knew if I learned these instruments that it would only help my voice even more.

“I was going to school to become a lawyer. I was on the student court. I was a very smart kid and didn’t really have to be in school to get good grades and manipulated the system in that way. I started doing school plays. I got a scholarship through playing the clarinet. They wanted me to come and then once I got there, they heard me sing and said, ‘You’re not playing clarinet. You’re going to sing.’ That was the first moment that I thought, ‘I can sing and this is what I want to do.

“At college, I was in an a cappella group, Voices Of Lee, as in Lee University. I lost my voice, singing with a group of people and having to blend, learn other people’s voices and make a group sound good. It was a toxic environment.”

Four years later, Nya moved to New York. In school and summer camp she had been in Ragtime and Shrek . Now she was going to try her hand at Broadway. First, she went home and told her mother that she wanted to pursue a career in music. “She wasn’t having it. She came here from Africa with nothing and wanted the best life for me. In her head, that meant going to school to become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer. I did not want to be a singing lawyer.”

Nya moved to New York City with nothing and within three years, she was in her first Broadway show, Caroline, or Change . She had the lead in an off-Broadway show, Cleopatra , and then played Nina Simone in an Israeli production of Soul Doctor and Martha Reeves in a touring production of Motown: The Musical . In Beautiful , the Carole King musical, she portrayed Little Eva and sang “The Loco-Motion.” Most recently she was in the off-Broadway hit Titanique .

Post- Idol , Nya intends to continue with her Broadway career. “Oh yes. I don’t have a Tony yet, so they’ve got to have me back. One of the shows I really want to do is Hamilton . I want to write my own musicals. I want to do TV, film, all of the above. Have my own beauty line.”

Nya’s father passed away in Georgia when she was 16, and when she sang “Georgia on My Mind” on Idol , she dedicated it to him. And her relationship with her mother now? “It’s good. She just really wanted me to succeed and I think whatever that would have been, she would have been happy with. Now that I’m an adult, I feel like she is way more open and really proud of me. To hear her say those words knocks me for a loop.”

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